There is plenty on the line as we head into day five at the WTA Tokyo Open and, as always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the slate in the Japanese capital.
WTA Tokyo Day 5 Predictions
Anna Kalinskaya vs Linda Noskova
Head-to-head: Noskova 1-0 Kalinskaya
Anna Kalinskaya conjured one of the biggest upsets of the week by knocking out compatriot Diana Shnaider in an absorbing marathon match in the last round. The former world #11 rallied from 2-4 down in the third set and won it in a deciding tiebreak after nearly three hours on court. Linda Noskova was also involved in a physically taxing match against McCartney Kessler and the sixth seed fought back from a set down to win in three sets. While both players had a day off after those gruelling matches, it is Kalinskaya who might benefit. When fresh, the Russian’s cleaner execution and shot selection could shine.
Prediction: Kalinskaya in 3
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Ekaterina Alexandrova vs Sofia Kenin
Head-to-head: Alexandrova 1-0 Kenin
Ekaterina Alexandrova put paid to any doubts about her fitness levels with a commanding 6-1 6-2 win over Jaqueline Cristian. This was her ninth win of the Asian swing as she seeks a third final. Sofia Kenin, for her part, escaped with a three-set win over home hope and wild card Wakana Sonobe. The American dug deep to win the match in a third-set tiebreak. This is her first quarterfinal since April, when she made the final in Charleston. With Alexandrova showing immaculate form and looking fit as ever despite accumulating more time on court so far over the course of the Asian swing than Kenin, expect the new world #10 to cruise to another semifinal.
Prediction: Alexandrova in 2
Belinda Bencic vs Karolina Muchova
Head-to-head: Bencic 2-2 Muchova
It’s now been a decade since Belinda Bencic made the final in Tokyo. Her longevity is admirable, but she perhaps not quite kicked on as many would have expected. Indeed, she has lost in the first round in two subsequent visits, but Bencic is now back in the last eight in the Japanese capital since that breakthrough season in 2015. Despite the routine scoreline in beating Varvara Gracheva, the Swiss faced as many as seven break points and was broken three times. Karolina Muchova, for her part, eased past Australian teenager Maya Joint 6-1 7-5. She recovered from a break deficit in the second set to win the match in straight sets. Bencic edges Muchova in power, but the Czech possesses the movement and variety to unsettle Bencic’s structured patterns.
Prediction: Rain in 3
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Elena Rybakina vs Victoria Mboko
Head-to-head: first meeting
Elena Rybakina is now in the driver’s seat as she makes one final push to qualify for the WTA Finals. And most importantly, the Kazakh is now certain of finishing the season in the world’s Top 10 for the third year in a row. Victoria Mboko, meanwhile, ended a four-match losing streak in Tokyo. She outplayed Bianca Andreescu in the all-Canadian clash and then backed it up with a polished 6-1 6-1 win over Eva Lys. Mboko’s form is off the skid, but with Rybakina showing sustained brilliance for over a week, it is the second seed who is likely to prevail and book her spot as the last qualifying player in Riyadh.
Prediction: Rybakina in 2
Main photo credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports
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