The final four is set in Cleveland. Of the top eight seeds, only two have made it this far. Those two are Alize Cornet and Aliaksandra Sasnovich. Joining them are two women who have already lifted titles on the WTA Tour this year in Bernarda Pera and Ludmilla Samsonova. Only two can move on to battle for the title and in this prediction piece we take a look at who those two might be. This tournament will serve as a great momentum springboard ahead of the US Open. Each of these four will be desperate for that to be them. With that in mind, let’s get stuck into our WTA Cleveland semifinal predictions.
WTA Cleveland Semifinal Predictions
Aliaksandra Sasnovich vs Alize Cornet
Head-to-head: 2 – 0 Sasnovich
This match has the feel of deciding who will be runner up in the final given the form of the other two players at the moment. However, neither of these two will see it that way and it certainly should be a great match to watch. Aliaksandra Sasnovich has been very convincing so far in Cleveland. She’s played good, aggressive tennis off the ground and protected her serve well. She will need to continue that trend against a determined competitor in Alize Cornet. The French star never goes down without a fight and is a tough opponent to beat, even on her off days. If Sasnovich keeps striking the ball as well as she has done all week then she should win this. However, Cornet could well draw enough errors out of her opponent to sneak this one. I’m going to back the Belarusian here, but this could go either way really.
Prediction: Sasnovich in 3
Ludmilla Samsonova vs Bernarda Pera
Head-to-head: 1 – 0
Pera and Samsonova are probably the most in-form players on the WTA Tour right now, Pera has won two titles and 19 of her last 20 matches over the last four weeks. Equally, the Russian has won eight in a row and lifted a title last week in Washington. Both sit on two career titles but only one will get the chance to fight for a third. Pera is probably more dangerous on clay so the surface advantage goes to the Russian in this one. Samsonova also has more power off the ground than the American. Pera will need to defend well and take any chances she gets to be aggressive and dictate points with that forehand of hers. I think Samsonova still has another level to climb to as far as her game goes and she should have too much for Pera here. However, it will be a spectacular match to watch either way, not one you want to miss!
Prediction: Samsonova in 3
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