Carla Suarez Navarro and Petra Kvitova meet in the quarterfinals of the 2018 tennis Connecticut Open.
Carla Suarez Navarro is coming off a walkover win over Johanna Konta, as she was forced to retire due to a viral illness. In her first round victory, Navarro won 44 percent of her return points and produced four breaks on five chances. Navarro could improve her serve, especially the second serve, but she's given herself a combined 20 break points in her last three matches, which gives her a chance to win every time she takes the court. Navarro has a chance to win three matches in a single tournament for the first time since the Madrid Masters. Navarro has won six of her last eight matches on hard court.
Petra Kvitova is coming off a three sets win over Zarina Diyas that took 27 games to decide. In the victory, Kvitova won 63 percent of her first serve points and 72 percent of her second serve points. Kvitova won 52 percent of her return points and converted on seven of her 14 break points. Kvitova has to improve her serve and played an uanessacry set because of her serving issues. However, Kvitova has produced 11 breaks in her last two matches, so her return has been more than good enough to make up for her recent hiccups. Still, the struggles serving won't produce too many victories moving froward. Kvitova has a chance to win at least three matches in a single tournament for the fifth time in her last nine tournaments. Kvitova has won six of her last eight matches on hard court.
These two have played 11 times and Kvitova has won six of those meetings. The most recent match was in the 2017 Canadian Masters, a match Kvitova won in straight sets. Suarez Navarro has won four of the last five matches against Kvitova.
Neither of these players are serving well, so the pick should be who you have more confidence with on the return. Suarez Navarro has owned the recent head to head against Kvitova and has the rest advantage. However, I'm still siding with Kvitova because the way she can control the pace and she's been a beast with her return lately, which includes seven breaks in her last match.
Lots of break points, but I like Kvitova to edge it.