Four women remain in contention for the 2022 WTA Transylvania Open title in Cluj, Romania. Fourth-seeded Anastasia Potapova seems to be the main favorite for the trophy, while the up-and-coming Xiyu Wang has a slightly tougher semifinal opponent. Who do you think will make the final?
WTA Cluj Semifinal Predictions
Jasmine Paolini vs Xiyu Wang
Head-to-head: First meeting
Despite seemingly not possessing a game that would be very effective indoors, Jasmine Paoli has been on fire this week. She’s been able to stand up to the power of Marta Kostyuk, Dayana Yastremska, and Jule Niemeier, every time finding ways not to be pushed behind the baseline and not let herself get overrun. This brilliant set of performances has earned her a maiden semifinal under the roof on the WTA Tour.
Battling her in the semifinal will be Xiyu Wang, who didn’t have much time to recover after her thriller against Elena-Gabriela Ruse, but still pulled off a win in straights over Nuria Parrizas-Diaz on Friday, coming back from 2-5 down in the second set. This is another matchup for Paolini where she’s going to face a player more powerful than her. Her goal will be to keep the Chinese on the move and stand up to her bigger shots. So far, she’s been doing that well and she might just keep it up.
Prediction: Paolini in 3
Anastasia Potapova vs Anna Blinkova
Head-to-head: Blinkova 1-0
Anna Blinkova had to start her campaign in Cluj from the qualifying draw, but the Russian was in great form from the get-go, winning her first three matches in straight sets. She’s also responded well to pressure, especially in the quarterfinals against Anhelina Kalinina. Her opponent took the opening set, but Blinkova didn’t let the lost momentum get into her head and played her aggressive tennis with even more efficiency from that point onwards.
Stylistically, this will be a very different matchup as Anastasia Potapova will try everything to have control over the baseline rallies. The 21-year-old has looked brilliant in Cluj so far, dropping just one set to Anna Bondar, but quickly recovering. Potapova has the higher upside and if she finds her groove, she should have the better chance at securing what would already be her 3rd WTA final of the season.
Prediction: Potapova in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
