Prague Open Quarters – Schiavone and Navarro on collision course

Prague, Czech Republic—The ECM Prague Open quarterfinal line-up took shape today and among the winners was top seed Francesca Schiavone and fourth seed Carla Suarez Navarro. Schiavone advanced into the final eight with an imperious 6-2, 6-2 win over Polona Hercog; meanwhile, Navarro moved into the final eight with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over local favourite Barbora Zahlavova Strycova.

Schiavone and Navarro are headed for a clash in the semis but first they must handle their quarterfinal opponents. Schiavone next faces Kateryna Bondarenko and Navarro will battle Timea Bacsinszky. Here is a look at the quarterfinal matchups in the top half of the draw.

Tennis Betting Line: Francesca Schiavone vs. Kateryna Bondarenko

Match Time: 06:00 A.M. Eastern Time Friday July 17 2009

Tennis Betting Verdict: Top seed Francesca Schiavone enters this match as the favourite to advance into the semis. Schiavone currently ranks No.30 in the world. She arrived in Prague 20-16 on the season and in reaching the quarters, she improves to 22-16. Schiavone started slowly this season but she has picked up pace recently. She was a semi-finalist in Barcelona and S’Hertogenbosch, and a quarterfinalist at Wimbledon.

It will be her first career meeting against No.68 Kateryna Bondarenko. The 22-year-old Ukrainian improves to 14-14 on the season by reaching the quarters. She beat older sister Alona Bondarenko (the fifth seed) in the first round and Kristina Barrois in the second round.

Tennis Betting Free Picks: Schiavone in three sets is the pick.

Tennis Betting Line: Carla Suarez Navarro vs. Timea Bacsinszky

Match Time: 06:00 A.M. Eastern Time Friday July 17 2009

Tennis Betting Verdict: No.33 Cara Suarez Navarro takes a 25-18 mark on the season into this match and a 1-0 edge in head-to-heads. The spunky Navarro (20) has had some noteworthy results this season, namely beating Venus Williams at the Australian Open to reach the quarterfinals (l. to Dementieva). She also reached the Marbella finals where she lost to Jelena Jankovic in three sets 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 and the semis at Barcelona (l to Maria Kirilenko). Most recently, she was a quarterfinalist in Bastad where she lost to eventual champion, compatriot Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez.

Timea Baczinsky weighs in at No.102 in the world and takes a 13-10 mark into the quarters. She is making her second quarterfinal appearance after reaching the quarters in Budapest last week where she lost to eventual champion Agnes Szavay.

While Bacsinszky has a good clay court game Navarro is a clay court specialist. This is the surface where she can do the most damage. She is the better play.

Tennis Betting Free Picks: Navarro in three sets