With just two days to go until the start of the French Open, the four women still in contention at the WTA Strasbourg International will surely be desperate to maintain their momentum ahead of the second Major of the year. But who will advance to Saturday’s final?
WTA Strasbourg Semifinal Predictions
Sorana Cirstea vs Magda Linette
Head-to-head: Cirstea 2-1 Linette
It has been a largely impressive season so far for Sorana Cirstea, highlighted by her run to the title in Istanbul last month and the Romanian has looked sharp once again so far this week. She opened her campaign with a 6-1 2-6 6-1 win over the veteran Venus Williams before dismissing sixth seed Zhang Shuai to set up a quarterfinal clash with Bianca Andreescu. However, the Canadian was forced to withdraw the match and now faces a race to be fit for the French Open.
Magda Linette, meanwhile, arrived at the WTA Strasbourg International in indifferent form, but has played some good tennis in Alsace. She opened her campaign with a 6-2 6-0 win over Nao Hibino before Alize Cornet’s retirement trailing 6-7 0-3 sent her into the quarterfinals. There she dismissed Yulia Putintseva 6-3 6-3 to reach her first semifinal of the season. But it is Cirstea who has the clay-court pedigree and the advantage in their head-to-head. Expect her to have the edge here.
Prediction: Cirstea in 3
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Barbora Krejcikova vs Jule Niemeier
Head-to-head: first meeting
Having come to within a point of upsetting Iga Swiatek in the third round in Rome, one might have forgiven Barbora Krejcikova for not being at her best this week. But the Czech has made light of that disappointment thus far at the WTA Strasbourg International. She did benefit from Ocean Dodin’s mid-match retirement in the first round, but has since impressed in beating Caroline Garcia 3-6 6-1 6-2 and third seed Ekaterina Alexandrova 7-6 6-1.
Jule Niemeier is still yet to break into the top 200, but that will likely change sooner rather than later for the 21-year-old. After winning an ITF-title in Prague earlier this month, the German has continued to play well in Strasbourg. She beat Bianca Turatti and Andrea Petkovic to come through the qualifying, before getting past Diane Parry, Shelby Rogers and Arantxa Rus – all in straight-sets – to reach the last four. But Krejcikova is a cut above any opposition Niemeier has faced so far. Expect the Czech, who can combine power and soft hands to excellent effect, to prove too strong.
Prediction: Krejcikova in 3
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