With the Sunshine Double now looming large on the horizon, there should be no shortage of motivation for the four players left in the field at the WTA Austin Open. As always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for both semifinals on what promises to be an entertaining day of tennis at the WTA Austin Open as well as the action in San Diego. But who will book their spot in Sunday’s final?
WTA Austin Semifinal Predictions
Anhelina Kalinina vs Wang Xiyu
Head-to-head: Wang 1-0 Kalinina
For a while Anhelina Kalinina was one of the most overranked players on the circuit right now and the seed everyone wanted to draw in big events. But her form has improved since with solid performances in the Middle East and she’s also made it to the semifinals here, first time since her runner-up appearance at the WTA 1000 event in Rome.
Xiyu Wang defeated Kalinina in Acapulco four years ago when she was just 19 and has been a developing player since. Danielle Collins had to retire against her in the quarterfinals here, but her dismissal of in-form Darja Semenistaja was quite impressive. The top seed might be the slight favorite with the ability to problem-solve she’s been showing this week (particularly against Diane Parry), but this doesn’t look easy at all.
Prediction: Kalinina in 3
Yue Yuan vs Anna Karolina Schmiedlova
Head-to-head: first meeting
Yue Yuan is such an explosive player and it’s great that she’s following up her brilliant form in the Asian Swing of last year. Her movement might not be the most efficient and the shots lose plenty of quality when she’s out of position, but it’s not that easy to force her out of her comfort zone. Her quarterfinal win over Yafan Wang was particularly solid as her compatriot knows how to handle powerful players.
Anna Karolina Schmiedlova has been surviving all sorts of trouble this week. First she was 3-5 down in the third to Peyton Stearns, then won a rollercoaster match 5-7 7-6 7-5 with Sachia Vickery, eventually advancing to the semifinals after Anastastija Sevastova retired a set up. It doesn’t bode too well for her chances against the in-form Yuan and she also might not have enough on her strokes to keep the Chinese from attacking her freely.
Prediction: Wang in 2
Main photo credit: Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
