We are left with the final four players at the Winston-Salem Open. It’s an exciting bunch of players with great variety in their ages and career trajectories. Alex Michelsen is the last American player, and he will face Pablo Carreno Busta, the only former champion remaining. As always, we here at LWOT predict both semifinal matches. But who will advance to the final?
ATP Winston-Salem Semifinal Predictions
David Goffin vs Lorenzo Sonego
Head-to-Head: Goffin 1-0 Sonego
Another brilliant performance from Goffin to dispatch Rinky Hijikata in straight sets. He hasn’t been broken in his last two matches and made a combined total of 12 unforced errors, which is ridiculous for a span of four sets. This is Goffin’s first tour-level semifinals since Marrakech in April 2022, where he went on to take the title. He’s also up to No. 78 in the live rankings after spending most of the last year outside the top 100.
Lorenzo Sonego is the highest remaining seed and played like it against Pavel Kotov. He put 77% of his first serves in, making it difficult for Kotov to break him. Sonego is in his first semifinals of the year and is searching for his first tour-level final since Metz in September 2022. Both players are in great form this week, making it extremely difficult to choose. However, I feel like Goffin is on a mission this week, and his superior return of serve will make the difference.
Prediction: Goffin in 3
Alex Michelsen vs Pablo Carreno Busta
Head-to-Head: First meeting
Alex Michelsen is in his second tour-level semifinals of the year after a hard-fought, deciding set tiebreak win over Christopher Eubanks. Michelsen had a great day behind his serve and was more clinical in the third-set tiebreak. This win ensures a new career-high ranking of 51 for the American, and he is one win away from breaking into the top 50 before his 20th birthday.
Pablo Carreno Busta won his first ATP title at the Winston-Salem Open in 2016, so it’s appropriate that he’s having a resurgence week here. The Spaniard played a fantastic match against the in-form Learner Tien to reach his first semifinal in two years. This is a big boost for the Spaniard heading into the US Open. Both these players should be confident in their ability to win this match, and the winner will most likely be determined by who can keep his nerve under pressure.
Prediction: Carreno Busta in 3
Main Photo Credit: Jerry Lai – USA TODAY Sports
