It’s time for the semifinals of the 2023 WTA Seoul Open. Yuan Yue and Emina Bektas have both advanced to the semifinals at a main tour event for the very first time, while Jessica Pegula and Yanina Wickmayer form a pairing of players that we are/were much more used to at this stage. Who do you think will make the final?
WTA Seoul Semifinal Predictions
Yuan Yue vs Emina Bektas
Head-to-head: Bektas 1-0 Yuan
Emina Bektas is enjoying the best season of her career at 30 years old and now finds herself at a spot where she can break the top 100 with a win in the semifinals here. In fact it’s quite a big match for both players as neither has been at this stage of a WTA Tour event before.
Yue Yuan is struggling for consistency this year, but generally speaking her potential is much higher and the win over Marie Bouzkova in the quarterfinals was the perfect example of that. The Chinese was the better player all match and yet made a mess out of it and almost needed three hours in a two-setter. But if she can keep hitting her forehand like that…
Prediction: Yuan in 2
[cta id=4014 type=cta]
Jessica Pegula vs Yanina Wickmayer
Head-to-head: first meeting
Jessica Pegula has already booked her place at the WTA Finals and you could argue she doesn’t have that much to play for here. But the American loves competing and looks determined to play in Seoul until the end, not folding when the opposition stepped up with Claire Liu taking the opening set against her last round.
Yanina Wickmayer might be past her prime, but this is a wonderful comeback season for her and she keeps showing she’s an absolutely elite talent herself. She’ll throw everything she has at Pegula with the dynamic aggressive ball-striking and the big serve. The American must be considered the favorite, but it’s not a matchup that she’ll be entering with the feeling that nothing can go wrong. Wickmayer’s too good for that.
Prediction: Pegula in 3
Main photo credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
