Damien Kayat previews Sofia Kenin vs Anastasia Potapova and Maria Sakkari vs Emma Navarro in Selected Quarterfinals of the San Diego Open on the 15th of September 2023.
2023 WTA Tour
WTA 500
San Diego Open
Barnes Tennis Centre, San Diego, USA (Outdoor Hardcourt)
Selected Quarterfinals – 15th September
Sofia Kenin (ODDS TBA) | Anastasia Potapova (ODDS TBA)
Could we be witnessing the rebirth of Sofia Kenin as a force in the women’s game? The 24-year-old American and former Aussie Open champion has had huge problems with injury and form over the last 18 months.
But she has looked impressive in San Diego, first conquering 6th seed Kudermetova in straight-sets before a comeback win against the appropriately names Volynets. The versatile counterpuncher has the type of high-octane game that really requires her to be in perfect physical condition.
I knew that the dogged American just needed a run of games to really rediscover her undoubted talent. This will only be her 2nd quarterfinal appearance of the season (the first being a semi-final run in Hobart earlier this year).
She was disturbingly broken eight times by Volynets in their seesaw match and she will need to tighten up on her delivery if she wishes to end her title drought.
22-year-old Anastasia Potapova has gone slightly off the boil after a very encouraging- not to mention controversial- start to the season. The WTA rather ridiculously issued a formal complaint to Potapova for sporting a Spartak Moscow shirt at Indian Wells.
It was a slightly overblown incident that really obscured the progress she was making on the court. The hard-hitting baseliner won her 2nd WTA title at the Linz Open. She then followed an excellent Miami quarterfinal run with semi-final appearances in Stuttgart and Birmingham.
But the aggressive Russian has found it tough on the North American hardcourts, winning just one match in her previous four events. But she seems to have found some magic on these quick San Diego courts, grinding out a result against Parks before dispatching of top seed Ons Jabeur in straight-sets.
The Tunisian couldn’t live with the Russian’s booming forehand and she will be desperate to reach her 4th semi-final of the season.
Verdict: Kenin to win in three – (ODDS TBA)
This will be the first career meeting between these two. I think Potapova’s victory over Jabeur will obviously capture a lot of attention.
But the Tunisian still hasn’t shaken off that Wimbledon final defeat and I wouldn’t put too much stock into it. Kenin is well suited to potentially diffuse the Russian’s power hitting.
She keeps the ball in play and will frustrate Potapova into making more shots than she would like. The Russian has the tendency to spray errors in extended rallies and that’s where I believe the American will prosper.
Maria Sakkari 51/100 | Emma Navarro 15/10
It’s unreal that 3rd seed Maria Sakkari still only has one WTA title to her name. The ever-consistent Greek has had a typically consistent season, reaching WTA 1000 semi-finals at Indian Wells and Madrid before reaching a final in Washington.
But the Greek was once again unable to seal the deal in the final (she has now lost seven of her eight career finals). She went through a mini existential crisis at the US Open, breaking down in tears after her shock first-round defeat to Rebeka Masarova.
It was her 3rd consecutive first round exit in a slam and really highlighted her general lack of BMT. She will have felt grateful following Osorio Serrano’s retirement in her opening match. It allowed for an easy passage to the final eight and a chance for some immediate redemption.
American qualifier Emma Navarro progressed to the quarterfinals after a convincing straight-sets victory over Belarusian Sasnovich.
It was an impressive showing considering Sasnovich’s huge upset win against Belinda Bencic. Like Pegula, Navarro is the daughter of a billionaire and she really rose to prominence by claiming the girl’s title at the 2019 Wimbledon Championships.
The 22-year-old has enjoyed a pretty tidy little year this far. She has reached five ITF finals this year- winning three titles. She also reached her maiden tour-level semi-final at Bad Homburg Open, highlighting her all-court versatility.
Verdict: Navarro to win – 15/10
This will be the first career meeting between these two. I really think you have to take the occasional risk and this could be that type of match. Sakkari seems a bit mentally frazzled at present while Navarro has worked her way methodically through qualifying to stand on the precipice of a 2nd tour-level semi-final.
