Aryna Sabalenka vs Karolina Pliskova Tennis Prediction

Defending champion Karolina Pliskova, seeking her third consecutive Eastbourne final this week, moves past fellow Czech Barbora Strycova with a straight-set win (6-3 6-4) in an hour and 23 minutes. She struck 28 winners to Strycova’s 20 and converted four of the ten break points opportunities.
In the last three seasons, the former world #1 has reached at least one grass final every year, including triumphing at 2016 Nottingham (d. Riske) and 2017 Eastbourne (d. Wozniacki), making her one of the five active players to have won multiple WTA grass titles.
Pliskova, who has never defended a title in her career, came into Eastbourne after suffering a first-round exit at Birmingham, losing to the eventual runner-up and last year’s Wimbledon semifinalist, Rybarikova (6-2 6-3 in 63 minutes). Since 2014, the Czech has gone 16-4 against outside top 40 players on grass.
Debutante Aryna Sabalenka battles her way into the quarterfinal after defeating ninth seed Elise Mertens, 7-5 2-6 7-6, in two hours and 40 minutes. This match saw 257 points being played and no less than 34 break point chances being created from both players.
Sabalenka, who had never played a WTA grass match before this month, has now reached her second tour-level quarterfinal on this surface. A couple of weeks ago, she defeated Tomljanovic and Vondrousova to reach the last eight of ‘s-Hertogenbosch (l. Flipkens).
She started her campaign this week with two more three-set victories over lucky loser Sachia Vickery and sixth seed Julia Goerges, taking her total time spent on the court to five hours and 15 minutes. In fact, five of the six grass matches she played this season has gone the distance.
This will be the pair’s first meeting. Pliskova is undoubtedly the superior grass player between the two. Currently #2 in the season ace leaderboard, the second seed is expected to improve her 4-0 record in WTA grass quarterfinals.

Tennis Prediction: Karolina Pliskova
Odds: 1.33