Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the WTA Washington match.
The quarter-final in Washington marks the second meeting between Anna Kalinskaya and Clara Tauson in the space of a month. Earlier in July, the Danish player secured a confident victory over the Russian on the grass courts at Wimbledon. The upcoming match offers Anna a chance to turn the tables on the hard court.
Anna Kalinskaya
Anna Kalinskaya has shown some solid form in Washington, comfortably dispatching Kamilla Rakhimova and Magda Linette. However, these wins came against lower-ranked opposition. When facing higher-calibre opponents, the challenge has been greater — she has lost three of her four matches against players ranked inside the WTA top 20. This season on hard courts, the Russian has managed just three wins from nine outings.
Clara Tauson
Clara Tauson is currently ranked among the world's top 20. She has already lifted a title in Auckland and reached the final in Dubai this season. On hard courts, she boasts 15 wins from 20 matches this year. Her powerful first serve remains one of the most effective on tour — the Dane has fired 254 aces so far, the highest total in the WTA. Despite the risks associated with her second serve, Clara has won nine of her 13 matches against top-50 players on hard courts this season.
Anna Kalinskaya vs Clara Tauson Prediction
Having already beaten Anna Kalinskaya on grass recently, Clara Tauson transitions to a surface where she has consistently excelled this year. She is expected to come through again, covering a -1.5 games handicap.
