US representatives Varvara Lepchenko and Lauren Davis will compete in the quarterfinals of the WTA-125 tournament in Midland.
Varvara Lepchenko
38-year-old Lepchenko again played a difficult match yesterday, as expected. In the 1/8 finals, Varvara was able to beat Haruka Kaji from Japan in only three sets – 6:7 (5:7); 6:4; 6:4. In the first set, the American could easily have made a break with the score 1:1 in games, but she lost the advantage in the game on her opponent’s serve with a score of 40:15. In the middle of the game, with the score 3:3 in games, Lepchenko made an important break for herself and led with a score of 5:3. After this, Varvara could not control her nerves and was unable to serve for the set, which allowed Kaji to win back. The set eventually turned out to be protracted, and then it came to a tiebreaker, where Lepchenko at one point was leading with a score of 4:1, but Varvara again lost control of the game and eventually lost the set. In the second set, already with the score 1:1 in games, Lepchenko lost a game on her serve and settled for a 1:2 score. Next, the US representative could well have made a return break, but Varvara lost her advantage in the game on her opponent’s serve with a score of 40:15. Soon, in the middle of the game, with the score 2:3 in games, Lepchenko nevertheless pulled herself together and made a return break, which allowed her to win back. Then, with the score 5:4 in games, Lepchenko made a second break and thus the American was able to level the score in the match. At the very beginning of the decisive set, Lepchenko lost a game on her serve and settled for a 0:2 score in games. Next, Varvara saved the game on her serve from the score 15:40. From the score of 1:2 in games, the representative of the USA added and after making two breaks in a row she reached the score of 4:2. Next, Lepchenko lost the game on her serve and allowed Kaji to win back. However, with the score 5:4 in games, Varvara made another break, which allowed her to put an end to the match. The tennis players spent three hours and fifteen minutes on the court.
Lauren Davis
31-year-old Davis, in turn, shows a more confident game in Midland. Started at a home tournament on November 4th. In the 1/16 finals, Lauren beat Alina Charaeva from Russia in two sets – 7:6 (7:3); 6:3.
The day before yesterday, in the 1/8 finals, Davis showed excellent tennis and defeated her compatriot Whitney Osigwe – 6:0; 6:1. The tennis players spent one hour and ten minutes on the court.
Lauren Davis is currently ranked 387th in the WTA rankings.
Lauren Davis and Vvarvara Lepchenko played regularly with each other, but until 2021. In her last five matches since 2017, Davis has won three times. The last time Lauren and Varvara met each other was on July 31, 2021 in the semifinals of the WTA-125 clay tournament in Charleston. Then Lepchenko turned out to be stronger in two sets – 7:5; 6:3.
Forecast
In this match, Lauren Davis is, of course, considered the clear favorite by the bookmakers. Considering that Davis is playing very good tennis in Midland, it is quite possible to take a risk here and bet on Lauren to win in straight sets.
