Four are left at the WTA Ladies Open in Lausanne, the beautiful Swiss city that sits above the stunning Lake Geneva. One week removed from Wimbledon, the timing of this clay WTA 250 event may be seem strange. But with more than 100 years of history, there is plenty of prestige here. Saturday sees the semifinals, and with all but one seed already eliminated, the stage is well set for an outsider to make an impression here.
WTA Lausanne Semifinal Predictions
Anastasia Potapova vs Olga Danilovic
Head-to-head: 1-1
Their third meeting in total but the first since 2018, with both women among the hordes who are in constant battle in and around the world’s Top 100. Potapova has the better overall pedigree and boasts a WTA250 title on the clay after winning in Istanbul earlier this year. She has looked in excellent touch this week, following a three-set first round match with successive straight sets wins. Danilovic has had a more arduous week in Switzerland, having come through qualifying and going to three sets in her last two matches–even saving a match point against Anna Kalinskaya in the round of 32. This will be the Serbian’s first semi at Tour level, and that experience gap may be telling point in this one.
Prediction: Potapova in 3
Caroline Garcia vs Petra Martic
Head-to-head: 3-0 Garcia
Just a fortnight after upsetting Emma Raducanu at Wimbledon, Garcia has continued to show the talent that once had her at #4 in the world here in Lausanne. She has yet to lose a set this week, surrendering just one break of serve in the process and brushed aside a clay court specialist in Sara Sorribes Tormo in the last round. Another point in her favor is her dominant record over her Croatian opponent. In theory she is the favorite, but it’s worth noting that their last meeting was nearly four years ago, and Martic is enjoying something of a purple patch herself. Like Garcia, she also made the fourth round at Wimbledon, and like Garcia, she is yet to concede a set this week, even against home favorite Belinda Bencic. This is a razor-thin match up and a slight upset could well be on the cards.
Prediction: Martic in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
