Tatjana Maria (US Open Tennis - Twitter)
The German veteran Tatjana Maria locks horns with world No. 70, Zhu Lin, in the quarter-finals of the Korea Open on Friday.
The 35-year-old won an ITF title in the USA in February before winning the Copa Colsanitas title in April. Maria reached her first semi-final at a major at this year’s Wimbledon Championships. In the recently-concluded Chennai Open, Maria lost to Argentina’s Nadia Podoroska in the round of 16.
The world No. 80 began her campaign in Seoul with a hard-fought win in straight sets against 2014 Wimbledon finalist Eugenie Bouchard 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-5). In the round of 16, Maria made light work of the 24-year-old Australian Kimberly Birrell. The experienced campaigner won the match 6-0, 6-3.
The 28-year-old began the year with a run to the round of 16 at the Gippsland trophy. She failed to win the qualifying matches in the next three tournaments. The Chinese tennis pro won her first title in 2022 in Mexico, which was an ITF event. She won her second ITF title in Tunisia in April. She recently won another ITF title in the USA in August.
So far in the Korea Open, Zhu has won both her matches convincingly. In the first round, she defeated Su Jeong Jang in straight sets 6-3, 6-4. Zhu followed it up with another comprehensive performance against Ankita Raina as she defeated the Indian No. 1 in straight sets 6-1, 6-3.
This will be the first meeting between Tatjana Maria and Zhu Lin. Therefore, the head-to-head scoreline stands at 0-0.
Prediction: Tatjana Maria to win in straight sets.
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