It promises to be an entertaining day of semifinal action at the WTA Prague Open with two intriguing matches on the slate in the Czech capital. As always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for both matches, as well as the WTA Washington semifinals. But who will book their place in Sunday’s final?
WTA Prague Semifinal Predictions
Jaqueline Cristian vs Nao Hibino
Head-to-head: Hibino 1-0 Cristian
Nao Hibino continued her dominance over Tereza Martincova despite not facing each other for almost seven years. The Japanese veteran dropped just three games in a colorful performance. And she’s now within one win from becoming the latest lucky loser to reach the final following Maria Timofeeva’s run in Budapest a few weeks ago.
Jaqueline Cristian is having a fine week of her own, accounting for some big scalps at the tournament. She shocked top seed Marie Bouzkova right out of the gates. Victories over Emiliana Arango and Kateryna Baindl followed, the latter being in three sets. Hibino’s run probably defies logic considering how resoundingly she lost to Emiliana Arango in qualifying before the Colombian player lost to Cristian in the main draw. Cristian is packaged with the all-round game here, but this feels too close to call.
Prediction: Cristian in 3
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Linda Noskova vs Tamara Korpatsch
Head-to-head: first meeting
For the second year in a row, Linda Noskova booked her spot in the semifinal of her home tournament. The 18-year-old has made massive strides this year continuing the conveyor belt of Czech talent rising to the top. Although her early season form whittled down a bit (which is to be expected for an 18-year-old still learning her trade on the senior tour), Noskova is comfortably in 40th spot in the WTA Race, which tallies points accrued this year. And by virtue of reaching the semifinal, she’ll re-enter the top 60. She has been calm and collected throughout the week even when her back was against the wall during her round of 16 match against Ankita Raina. Normal service resumed in the quarterfinal where she thrashed Schimedlova 6-0 6-2.
Her opponent Tamara Korpatsch will be contesting her third career WTA semifinal, doing so as a qualifier. She got a slice of good fortune with in-form Yanina Wickmayer retiring in the second round. But she was simply on a roll in the quarterfinal as she eased past Alize Cornet in straight sets. Korpatsch’s movement was so smooth and menacing as she tore Cornet apart in that second set, and it is possible the Frenchwoman was playing through pain. Nonetheless, Korpatsch showed some nifty work from the baseline. But whether her peak tennis will be enough to counter Noskova’s pace and precision is doubtful. The young Czech is playing expansive attacking tennis this week and she appears to be past her recent hoodoo.
Prediction: Noskova in 2
Main photo credit: Andy Abeyta/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK
