There are two fascinating WTA Washington semifinals scheduled for Saturday. This year’s Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka will face the gritty Marie Boukova, while Paula Badosa is set to battle the home favourite Caroline Dolehide for a place in the final. As always, we at LWOT give our predictions and analysis for both matches. But which two players do you think will progress to the final?
WTA Washington Semifinal Predictions
Paula Badosa vs Caroline Dolehide
Head-to-head: First meeting
Badosa’s long match against Emma Raducanu in the intense Washington heat was her first tough match of the tournament. She comfortably beat Sofia Kenin in the opening round before Liudmila Samsonova retired with an injury in her following match. By contrast, Dolehide started with two hard battles in the opening two rounds but won more comfortably against Amanda Anisimova in the quarterfinal.
Dolehide’s match against Anisimova should be good preparation since Badosa, like Anisimova, strikes the ball very powerfully. The American must be at her best to triumph since Badosa usually makes fewer unforced errors than Anisimova. Nonetheless, I think Dolehide will claim another big victory. A tournament on home soil with fast conditions like Washington always represented Dolehide’s best chance of turning her previously faltering season around. Last year’s Guadalajara Open champion has a great opportunity to make the final if she redirects her opponent’s pace as well as the last round.
Prediction: Dolehide in 3
Aryna Sabalenka vs Marie Bouzkova
Head-to-head: Sabalenka 1-0 Bouzkova
Bouzkova is one of the most underrated players in the women’s game. This could be due to her understated personality or counterpunching style of play. She has characteristically slipped under the radar to reach the semifinals with wins against the American trio McCartney Kessler, Taylor Townsend, and Robin Montgomery. World No. 3 Sabalenka was not at her vintage best against Victoria Azarenka. However, the 2023 US Open runner-up played much better than her opening match against Kamilla Rakhimova.
Although Bouzkova is a great competitor, this is not an ideal matchup for her. Her ability to extend rallies causes most of her opponents problems. Unfortunately for her, Sabalenka is usually devastating when she has time to hit through her shots on hard courts. Also, Bouzkova’s serve, the weakest part of her game, will be in grave danger against Sabalenka’s aggressive return. The Czech will probably extract some unforced errors from the Australian Open champion, but not enough to threaten an upset.
Prediction: Sabalenka in 2
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane – USA TODAY Sports
