The WTA 250-level event in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia is down to the semifinal round as a stacked field of 32 has been dwindled down to four. #1 seed Anett Kontaveit and #2 seed Belinda Bencic still remain in the field, but can they advance through their tough respective semifinal matches? We at LWOT have the preview and prediction for both matches. But who will advance?
WTA Tallinn Semifinal Predictions
Belinda Bencic vs Barbora Krejcikova
Head-to-Head: Bencic 2-0 Krejcikova
Belinda Bencic and Barbora Krejcikova are set to meet in Tallinn with a spot in the finals on the line. Besides dropping a second-set tiebreak to Katie Boulter in Round 2, Bencic has had a fairly simple path to the semifinals. She has been more than solid from the baseline but may have to worry about double-faults being a factor in a close match. Krejcikova also has had a pretty straightforward path to the semis. Through three matches, she has yet to drop a set.
I believe this semifinal encounter will turn into a very back-and-forth contest between two in-form players. Bencic won their previous two meetings, both back in 2021. With that said, both encounters were tough battles, including a three-setter at the Tokyo Olympics. Krejcikova is one of the best doubles players in the world and has seemingly translated that form onto the singles court. I believe her aggressive nature of play has the opportunity to fluster Bencic into some serving woes. That could ultimately be the difference in this one.
Prediction: Krejcikova in 3
Anett Kontaveit vs Kaia Kanepi
Head-to-Head: first meeting
Estonians Annett Kontaveit and Kaia Kanepi are set to square off for the first time in their home country’s capital of Tallinn with a spot in the finals on the line. Even as the #1 seed, Kontaveit has not had the most straightforward path to the Tallinn semifinals. The current world No. 4 has played two, three-set matches this week and has been on court for five hours and 18 minutes. With that said, she has made her way through and is on the brink of her fourth finals appearance of the season. Kanepi has also played two, three-set matches this week. She has spent five hours and 58 minutes on-court which includes a first-round, set-down victory over Jelena Ostapenko.
Kontaveit has proven herself to be the best player in the world on indoor hard courts. She holds a 31-1 record on the surface over the past four seasons. Her clean and powerful ball-striking is not something that is easily matched. The tennis world has certainly enjoyed watching the resurgence of the 37-year-old Kanepi as she should not be taken lightly. I just do not believe she has the current game to keep up with what Kontaveit brings match in and match out.
Prediction: Kontaveit in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
