Marie Bouzkova Extends Winning Streak, Quarterfinals Set at WTA Monterrey

It’s been a difficult year for 24 year old American Alycia Parks . Parks had lost before the quarterfinals in every tournament she’s entered since Auckland, until this week in Monterrey where she’s put together consecutive victories, with one of the best wins of her career coming this week against top seed and world #11 Emma Navarro, a fellow American.

Parks has struggled with injuries this season but snapped a three match losing streak with a routine win 6-2 6-1 over Cristina Bucsa, a qualifier from Spain. Against Navarro, Parks played inspired, she got off to an early lead of 4-1, only to suffer a loss of focus and drop the first set to the favored Navarro 4-6. In sets 2 and 3 it was all about Parks dictating play and leaving Navarro without answers, as Parks prevailed 4-6 6-3 6-2. Parks was the one generating winners in the match. She broke Navarro routinely in the second set and then was in cruise control f or most of the third as she rallied a motivated crowd behind her.

After the match, Parks stated she was playing this week in honor of her grandmother, who recently passed away.

Next up for Parks is top 40 player Rebecca Sramkova , Sramkova upset Leylah Fernandez 2-6 6-3 6-2 in the second round, after a routine win in the first round over local wild card Victoria Rodriguez.

Linda Noskova sets up anticipated quarterfinal with Ekaterina Alexandrova

20 year old Linda Noskova the defending champion in Monterrey, continues her rise and is knocking on the door of the top 20. Noskova had to battle past Lulu Sun in a rematch of the 2024 final (taking place in the first round as Sun qualified for the tournament), winning two tiebreaks. Her second round match against Germany’s Tatjana Maria was a bit easier. Maria struggled with Noskova’s power, her slice game was no match for a player like Noskova, who hits through the court with great vision.

A recent finalist in Prague, Noskova is already a dark horse for a US Open run as she enjoys playing on hard courts.

The veteran Ekaterina Alexandrova will be her quarterfinal opponent, the Russian is at a career high ranking of #14 having nearly surpassed her career high win total in a season of 35 in 2019, and it’s only August. Alexandrova has consistently been reaching quarterfinals on the WTA Tour, and it was 6-4 6-3 in her first match of the tournament against Ajla Tomljanovic.

Qualifier Antonia Ruzic to face in-form Marie Bouzkova

The player in the best form on the WTA Tour right now may be Marie Bouzkova . The 27 year old is well off her top career ranking of #24, but she’s been having the best weeks of her career. A champion in Prague (over Noskova), she won two matches in Montreal and has now done the same in Monterrey. The first win was 3-6 6-2 6-4 over Zeynep Sonmez of Turkey, and then Beatriz Had dad Maia proved to be a favorable matchup, as Bouzkova won 6-3 6-4.

A former finalist in Monterrey (2020), Bouzkova, who is fluent in Spanish, is clearly enjoying this venue and the opportunity to perhaps be a champion again. Bouzkova has won 9 of her last 10 matches and is “finding more ways to be aggressive” with her game.

Antonia Ruzic , a 22 year old qualifier, will be the quarterfinal opponent for Bozukova. Ruzic recently reached a career high of #84, she’s won five matches in Monterrey this week, qualifying, and then defeating Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 7-6 6-1 and Elisabetta Cocciaretto 7-6 2-6 6-0. Ruzic has two ITF titles this year and this is just her second career WTA quarterfinal, having already surpassed her previous career win total this season.

Elise Mertens Faces Diana Shnaider for the fourth time

Diana Shnaider is just 21 years old, but she’s faced Elise Mertens three times in her career, with two of those matches coming this season. Mertens won the first 2, including a routine win at Monterrey in 2023, but Shnaider did win their meeting in Rome on clay and is the higher seed against Mertens this time around.

Shnaider was in the top 15 earlier this season, three straight losses were a recent setback, but she got back on track with an opening match win against Kamilla Rakhimova 7-6 6-1 in the round of 16 in Monterrey.

Mertens has put together her best season on tour since 2021 she’s yet to drop a set in Monterrey with wins over Anna Blinkova and Donna Vekic. With two WTA titles this season and a final, Mertens is one of the most accomplished players remaining in the draw.

Thursday play will see all be settled in Monterrey, as hot temperatures make day matches particularly challenging for players.