The final quarterfinal in Chicago was interrupted on Thursday and so only one of the semifinal matches is set. Featured in that match are world #6 and tournament top seed Elina Svitolina and top Swedish seed Rebecca Peterson. Both have played good tennis to make it this far and have set themselves up for a strong campaign in New York next week. The question is who will come out on top in Chicago? We take a look at exactly that in out WTA Chicago semifinal prediction.
WTA Chicago Semifinal Prediction
Elina Svitolina vs Rebecca Peterson
Head-to-head: First meeting
Svitolina starts this match as the obvious favorite and for good reason. She is fresh off a bronze medal run at the Tokyo Olympics. Add to that the impressive fashion in which she has advanced her in Chicago and she looks to be the player to beat this week. Svitolina is a very good hard court player and probably a favourite to do well at the US Open this year. She has held a placer in the top ten in the women’s game since 2017 and has several big trophies to her name. Despite never winning a Grand Slam she is undoubtedly an elite player on the WTA tour and is never an easy opponent to face. She is also the in-form player heading into this match as mentioned previously.
Conversely, Peterson has no real form to speak of. She hasn’t won back to back matches on the tour since May. Her run in this tournament is only the third occasion she has managed to do so. However, Peterson at her best is a very competent tennis player and a threat to anyone. In 2019 she won two titles on hard courts in China playing at a level well above her level over the last 18 months. Her play in Chicago has been reminiscent of that 2019 level. Should she continue in that vein this will be a brilliant match to watch. In fact, I suspect the winner will likely go all the way in Chicago.
Svitolina has impressed in recent weeks after a slow start to her 2021 campaign. However, Peterson is due a good run and a player of her quality will come good eventually. I said earlier in the week that this might well be that tournament for her and I stand by it. This should be a close affair but I think the Swedish star comes out on top here.
Prediction: Peterson in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
