Only four players remain in contention for the 2024 WTA Korea Open title in Seoul. Three semifinalists are Russian, including top seed Daria Kasatkina and 20-year-old Diana Shnaider, with Beatriz Haddad Maia joining them as the last player still in the event. Everyone will be playing for the second time today after action was completely rained off on Friday. Who do you think will make the final?
WTA Seoul Semifinal Predictions
Beatriz Haddad Maia vs Veronika Kudermetova
Head-to-head: Kudermetova 2-0
Beatriz Haddad Maia hadn’t been in amazing form most of the season, but solid results during the North American swing seem to have allowed her to rebuild her confidence. She has wasted no time getting into the semifinals in Seoul and should continue to be dangerous going forward. Veronika Kudermetova is going to have to defend her Tokyo title points soon and needs any run she can get right now. Luckily for her, this is pretty much her best event of the year already. Despite the negative head-to-head, it seems like this will be a good opportunity for the more stable Haddad Maia to get her first win over Kudermetova.
Prediction: Haddad Maia in 2
Daria Kasatkina vs Diana Shnaider
Head-to-head: First meeting
Daria Kasatkina has already made four WTA 500 finals this year, including the Eastbourne title. The top seed might be about to lock up her fifth and hasn’t been pushed at all in Seoul so far. Meanwhile, Diana Shnaider has had an awesome breakout year with titles on all three surfaces. Fitness-wise this might be a tricky challenge for her. Her quarterfinal against Marta Kostyuk was very competitive and required a comeback from 3-6 in the first set tie-break. Kasatkina didn’t spend all that much time on the court on Saturday morning with Emma Raducanu retiring after dropping the opening set and has the variety to make it uncomfortable for a slightly tired opponent.
Prediction: Kasatkina in 3
Main Photo Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
