Despite having just one Top 100 player and two players outside of the Top 200, the semifinal lineup of WTA Hamburg is certainly not lacking in quality. Two rising stars facing off in one semifinal and two experienced veterans in the other. As always, we here at LWOT will preview and predict every match. Who do you think will make the final?
WTA Hamburg Semifinal Predictions
Noma Noha Akugue vs Diana Shnaider
Head-to-head: first meeting
A breakout run for Noma Noha Akugue. The 19-year-old had a tougher time following up a 50-win season from last year, winning one title and reaching six finals on the ITF Tour. Noha Akugue got a wildcard into the main draw, taking out Laura Pigossi and Storm Hunter before pulling off her biggest win yet over Martina Trevisan in the quarterfinals. Shnaider grabbed headlines in January, qualifying to reach the second round at the Australian Open and pushing Maria Sakkari in a 6-3 5-7 3-6 loss. The 19-year-old has mixed professional play with college this year, notching a couple of decent wins along the way such as Veronika Kudermetova in Charleston and Bernarda Pera in Budapest but without a longer run. Shnaider has beaten Pera again this week in the quarterfinals after taking out Polina Kudermetova and Julia Grabher. This should be an exciting match-up between two rising stars of the game. I see Noha Akugue as a slight favorite here.
Prediction: Noha Akugue in 3
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Arantxa Rus vs Daria Saville
Head-to-head: first meeting
Rus, known for mainly building her tour-level ranking through ITF results, has continued the trend this season. The 32-year-old has gone 13-1 since losing in Wimbledon qualifying with a W40 title from Haag and a W100 title from Contrexeville adding to her total career tally of 34 ITF titles, still awaiting her first on the main tour. Standing in her way is Daria Saville, who dropped out of the Top 200 after missing nine months with injury, only returning last month in Birmingham. The Australian was 1-3 on the year coming into Hamburg qualifying, losing to Katie Boulter at Wimbledon and eventual champion Maria Timofeeva in Budapest. Saville qualified past Barbora Palicova and Sinja Kraus and hasn’t looked back since, getting impressive wins over Jasmine Paolini, Tamara Korpatsch, and Jule Niemeier. Saville has been in great form but with Rus’ pedigree on the surface, I see the Dutchwoman with a slight edge.
Prediction: Rus in 3
Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
