We enter the weekend at the WTA Zhengzhou Open with two intriguing semifinal bouts. No. 1 ranked Chinese Qinwen Zheng looks to get by Jasmine Paolini, and Barbora Krejcikova squares off against Daria Kasatkina for the third time this year. We at LWOT have the preview and prediction for both matches. But who will make the final?
WTA Zhengzhou Semifinal Predictions
Qinwen Zheng vs Jasmine Paolini
Head-to-Head: Zheng 1-0 Paolini
Qinwen Zheng, backed by home-country support, is into her first WTA semifinals since July. She has yet to drop a set at WTA Zhengzhou and picked up one of the best wins of her career in Round 2 over Maria Sakkari. She takes on Jasmine Paolini on Saturday. These two played a fantastic match in Palmero earlier this year, with Zheng pulling out a three-set victory. Paolini picked up a top-ten win over Caroline Garcia in Round 2 herself, improving to 5-1 during this Asian swing. This match will be an exciting baseline encounter, but the power of Zheng should overwhelm the Italian. Zheng tends to play her best tennis in front of the home crowd.
Prediction: Zheng in 2
Barbora Krejcikova vs Daria Kasatkina
Head-to-Head: Krejcikova 2-1 Kasatkina
Barbora Krejcikova and Daria Kasatkina will square off for the third time this season. They split the previous two meetings and should once again provide theater for the WTA Zhengzhou patrons on Saturday. Krejcikova is 6-1 since the US Open, winning the San Diego title less than a month ago. On the other hand, this is the first event Kasatkina has found her footing since reaching the second week at Flushing Meadows. Kasatkina has the advantage of a quarterfinal walkover due to an Ons Jabeur injury, but in her case, she may have preferred a tough test. Krejcikova is in better form and should be able to push Kasatkina around the fast courts of Zhengzhou.
Prediction: Krejcikova in 3
Main Photo Credit: Ray Acevedo – USA TODAY Sports
