It is still all to play for with a very even final four at the WTA Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, just one seed left among the semifinalists. It has been a strong tournament and we should expect a strong finish here. As always, we here at LWOT will preview and predict every match. Who do you think will make it to the final?
WTA Tokyo Semifinals Predictions
Liudmila Samsonova vs Shuai Zhang
Head-to-head: first meeting
Samsonova has been one of the best players on tour since August, winning back-to-back titles in Washington and Cleveland before reaching the fourth round at the US Open. The 23-year-old has brought her form over to Japan, eliminating Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina in the first round. Samsonova then beat Wang Xinyu and dominated two-time slam champion Garbine Muguruza in the quarterfinals.
Zhang has had a strong season, returning to the Top 30 and winning her first WTA title since 2017. This week, the 33-year-old has played some good tennis, dropping just three games to Mai Hontama before overcoming a 27-ace performance from Caroline Garcia to win in a third-set tiebreak. Zhang also dealt with Petra Martic in the quarterfinals. I believe Samsonova will win out here and reach her third final in two months, she should be beating Zhang on current form.
Prediction: Samsonova in 2
Qinwen Zheng vs Veronika Kudermetova
Head-to-head: first meeting
Zheng has had a breakout year on the WTA, getting a 35-15 record and her first WTA title in Valencia. The 19-year-old looked good on the U.S. hard courts, earning wins over Ons Jabeur, Jelena Ostapenko, and Bianca Andreescu, and has translated her form well to her home continent. Kudermetova has had almost as good a record, 34-17, with three runs to the final but not titles this season. She is likely a favorite to change that here, the last seed standing after wins over Fernanda Contreras Gomez and Beatriz Haddad Maia. I believe the final will be an all-Russian affair with the 25-year-old advancing, though I see this as a closer match-up.
Prediction: Kudermetova in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
