Only four players remain in the draw at the Morocco Open. Who will advance to Saturday’s final? These are my WTA Rabat Semifinal Predictions.
WTA Rabat Semifinal Predictions
Maria Sakkari vs Alison Van Uytvanck
Head to Head: 1-0 Van Uytvanck
Although Van Uytvanck won Budapest this year, she had been struggling since early 2018 and is still trying to find her best tennis. Sakkari has really climbed in the rankings over the past calendar year, although she has cooled off recently. Her best tournament of the year before this week came on clay in Charleston where she reached the quarterfinal. Van Uytvanck has had an odd year, winning no more than one match at a single tournament aside from her title week and this week.
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Sakkari has had the better week this week, winning three matches without dropping a set, including her quarterfinal victory over the tournament’s #1 seed Elise Mertens. Van Uytvanck has also looked strong, dropping only one set in her quarterfinal match. Sakkari has the advantage here being in better form in general and on clay, as well as having stronger victories this week against tougher competition. Sakkari will get a chance to play for her first title.
Prediction: Sakkari in 2
Ajla Tomljanovic vs Johanna Konta
Head to Head: 2-1 Konta
This competitive semifinal should be a fun battle between top 50 players. Tomljanovic is seeking a chance to play for her first ever tour level title, while Konta is seeking her fourth but first since early 2017. Both are comfortable on clay, though the surface does not stand out as their strongest. Konta will be coming into this match tired, as all three of her matches here this week have gone a full three sets. Tomljanovic has managed to win easier this week, and has more to gain by an appearance in the final.
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These two have faced off three times, with Konta winning two of them, including splitting their two meetings in 2019. All three of these matches took place on hard courts, so their previous meetings cannot be overly relied on. Right now, Tomljanovic has the slight edge, as she has spent less time on court this week, and she has been in better form over the last few months. Both players would benefit strongly in rankings from the trip to the final, and Tomljanovic should have just enough to get past Konta.
Prediction: Tomljanovic in 3
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