WTA Washington Quarterfinal Predictions Including Pegula vs Kalinskaya

The Mubadala DC Open women’s singles draw enters the last eight with some mouth-watering encounters on the cards in Washington, D.C., including that one between two-time champion Jessica Pegula and last year’s finalist, Anna Kalinskaya. 2022 champion Liudmila Samsonova is also set to face Diana Shnaider in an all-Russian affair, but who will advance?

WTA Washington Quarterfinal Predictions

Diana Shnaider vs Liudmila Samsonova

Head–to–Head: Shnaider 2 – 1 Samsonova

Diana Shnaider is rolling into this one on the back of a ruthless 6-1 6-2 demolition of Anastasia Potapova, and now she turns her sights on fellow Russian Liudmila Samsonova in a mouthwatering all-Russian clash.

Samsonova arrives with her own momentum, having banked four wins in her last five, including a solid win over Xinyu Wang, as signs point to the World No. 70 rounding back into form. The head-to-head sits at 2-1 in Shnaider’s favor, but Samsonova holds the psychological edge after clawing back to win their last meeting in a decider at Wimbledon just weeks ago.

With two of their three previous meetings going the distance, don’t bet against another three-set thriller here with the older Russian edging it.

Prediction: Samsonova in 3

Elina Svitolina vs Alexandra Eala

Head–to–Head: Svitolina 0 – 1 Eala

Alexandra Eala’s Washington run keeps gathering steam, and now she’s got a proper score to settle, or rather, one to defend. Fresh off dumping defending champion Leylah Fernandez out in straight sets (6-2 7-6), the Filipina rides into a quarterfinal rematch with Elina Svitolina carrying all the psychological ammunition after beating the Ukrainian just weeks ago on Berlin grass, 6-3 6-4.

Svitolina, who ground out a 7-6 6-4 escape against Polina Kudermetova, will be desperate to flip the script and remind everyone why she’s the second seed. But Eala’s game has real teeth right now–she’s not just riding a hot streak; she’s playing with the composure of someone who believes she belongs at this level.

Expect a genuine scrap between Svitolina’s experience and craft and Eala’s fearless ball-striking, plus the mental edge from their last meeting. This looks like a coin flip, and I’ll lean towards the younger athlete in this one.

Prediction: Eala in 3

Naomi Osaka vs Elisabetta Cocciaretto

Head–to–Head: Osaka 1 – 0 Cocciaretto

Naomi Osaka rolls into this quarterfinal in ominous form, winning five of her last 6 matches, and there’s little in Elisabetta Cocciaretto’s game to suggest she can upend the momentum.

The Italian deserves credit for grinding through a gutsy three-setter over Emma Navarro, but Osaka’s power and rhythm right now look a tier above anything she’s faced in Washington so far. The pair’s only previous meeting, a straightforward 6-3 6-4 Osaka win in Miami two years back, already hinted at the gulf between them and with the four-time Major winner playing arguably her best tennis since her comeback, expect a similar story here on the way to the semis.

Prediction: Osaka in 2

Jessica Pegula vs Anna Kalinskaya

Head–to–Head: Pegula 4 – 1 Kalinskaya

Jessica Pegula’s Washington résumé speaks for itself, and after grinding past Magdalena Frech 3-6 6-3 6-0 to reach the quarters, the top seed now walks into eerily familiar territory against Anna Kalinskaya–a rivalry that’s produced five three-set battles and a 4-1 Pegula lead, including that very first meeting right here in D.C. back in 2019 en route to the title.

Kalinskaya arrives with momentum of her own after clawing back past Janice Tjen 1-6 6-3 7-6, but history and hardcourts both favor Jpeg, who’s swept all three of their previous meetings on this surface.

Expect another decider, another dogfight, and another Pegula escape act as this rivalry doesn’t know how to do straight sets, but her composure in the clutch should see her through to the semis.

Prediction: Pegula in 3

Main Photo Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images