One thing that Simona Halep can count on in this match is her outstanding serve. The Romanian’s service game bailed her out in her thrilling comeback victory over Madison Keys in the fourth round. Halep put into play 73 percent of her first serves against Keys with the world no. 5 winning an incredible 68 percent of those said points. Halep also wreaked havoc with her second serve, winning 18 of 29 points in those situations.
Halep will fancy her chances of beating Kerber in the quarterfinals as she has fared extremely well against the German of late. Halep has won three of her last four meetings with Kerber in the WTA Tour. This will be their first showdown, however, on grass. Halep has excelled in this particular surface this season, going a perfect 4-0 thus far this year.
One advantage that Angelique Kerber has in her arsenal is her excellent return. The defending Australian Open champion won 49 percent of her receiving points in her straight-sets win against Japan’s Misaki Doi. Kerber converted four of her nine break point chances in that fourth-round match. Kerber has been impeccable in this event thus far as she has yet to drop a set in her opening four matches.
For Kerber to continue her brilliant run against Simona Halep, she will need to bring her patented aggressive style and continue her highly-efficient play in the quarterfinals. The German star hit 17 winners and committed just nine unforced errors in her win against Doi. Kerber is averaging just 10.8 unforced errors in this tournament thus far.
Kerber is 6-4 in her last 10 matches.
Writer’s Prediction: Halep (+105) edges past Kerber in three tough sets.
