The semifinals of the WTA Kremlin Cup are here! It’s been an exciting week of tennis in Moscow and we are down to four players! Who will make the final and who will fall? Read on to find out!
WTA Kremlin Cup Semifinals Predictions
Karolina Muchova vs Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
never played
Karolina Muchova will look to continue her fantastic post-US Open run against 2014 Kremlin Cup champion Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. Muchova comfortably beat a dangerous indoor player in Ekaterina Alexandrova. Muchova has not dropped a set this week and is playing the tennis of her career, so far. Pavlyuchenkova is playing well in her home country. She won a tight straight sets match over Veronika Kudermetova, which included Pavlyuchenkova saving three set points in the second set.
These two have never played before. Muchova will look to use her variety to make Pavlyuchenkova uncomfortable. Muchova has been playing so well lately, beating tough opponents in Kuznetsova, Vekic, and Alexandrova in straight sets. In addition, while Pavlyuchenkova continues to win, she’s not playing her best tennis. Expect Muchova to comfortably advance to the final of the Kremlin Cup.
Prediction: Muchova in 2
Belinda Bencic vs Kristina Mladenovic
Head to Head: 3-1 Mladenovic
Belinda Bencic will be under extraordinary pressure in her semifinal match against Kristina Mladenovic. If Bencic wins this match, then she is into the top eight of the WTA standings, and with that, has a spot in the WTA Finals. Bencic has handled the pressure well this week, surviving a tight match against Polona Hercog and a very close first set against Kirsten Flipkens. However, Mladenovic is going to be Bencic’s toughest opponent this week, so far. Mladenovic has won every match this week in three sets, beating Kiki Bertens in the quarterfinals. Mladenovic’s win over Bertens took Bertens out of the running for a top eight spot in the WTA standings.
Mladenovic leads the head to head (excluding Hopman Cup) 3-1, including a three-set win over Bencic on the clay in Rome earlier this season. Mladenovic is a very good player indoors, where her all-court game really comes together. Bencic is doing well to keep herself in the running for a spot in the WTA Finals. However, Mladenovic just ended Bertens’ hopes, and with the way she is playing, expect her to beat Bencic, as well. Mladenovic wins a close match to advance to the final of the WTA Kremlin Cup.
Prediction: Mladenovic in 3
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