Only four players remain in contention for the 2023 WTA Ningbo Open. Petra Kvitova went out to Diana Shnaider in the quarterfinals, leaving Ons Jabeur as the main favorite for the title. Can the top-seeded Tunisian defeat Nadia Podoroska? Who do you think will make the final?
WTA Ningbo Semifinal Predictions
Linda Fruhvirtova vs Diana Shnaider
Head-to-head: First meeting
Things weren’t looking bright for Linda Fruhvirtova until this event. She had lost her Chennai title points and had fallen out of the top 100. On top of that, she was on a nine-match losing streak. While her first round in Ningbo was a retirement win against Rebeka Masarova, the Czech did well to turn it into a much-needed run.
Diana Shnaider also hadn’t made headlines recently, but her win over Petra Kvitova in the quarterfinals was absolutely box-office. The two youngsters will now battle for what would be the first WTA Tour final for Shnaider. It feels like the Russian can cause Fruhvirtova issues with her heavier lefty game and should be flying high on confidence after securing that brilliant victory in the quarterfinals.
Predictions: Shnaider in 3
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Ons Jabeur vs Nadia Podoroska
Head-to-head: First meeting
This is just the second WTA Tour hard-court semifinal for Nadia Podoroska, but she’s done very well to show her reputation as a hardcore clay-court specialist is a bit of an underestimation of her abilities. In fact, she’s only lost four games across her last four sets! She actually has a very good record against top 10 players as well (3-2), including one hard-court win.
Ons Jabeur is the top seed in Ningbo and a massive favorite for the title since Petra Kvitova went out. Diane Parry pushed her in the opening round though and maybe if not for a brilliant 2-5 comeback in the opening set, Vera Zvonareva would have thrown her out of the event on Thursday. But as things stand the Tunisian’s not going anywhere and just like in her previous matches, she should have the edge over Podoroska if she plays anything next to her usual level.
Predictions: Jabeur in 2
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
