The WTA Washington Open semifinals are here. David is back from vacation, and I’m back to the action in the WTA. Here are my picks for these semifinals. Let me know if you agree with my selections or if you think we are in for at least one upset.
WTA Washington Open
Fernandez – Rybakina: Time 20:30
H2H: 1-1
Leylah Fernandez and Elena Rybakina have met twice previously, and they’ve split their results down the middle. They each have one win on a hardcourt in 2024. Fernandez got the win in the second round of the Cincinnati WTA, and Rybakina won in the quarterfinals at the WTA Doha. Rybakina is having a solid year, and she already has one tournament victory this year in Strasbourg. She is also 33-13 on the year, while Fernandez is a modest 19-17 overall on the year. Fernandez is 13-8 on a hardcourt, and Rybakina is 17-7 on a hardcourt.
Best Bet to Make
Fernandez is a pretty huge underdog in this match, and that is a touch surprising given their history. Fernandez is likely the underdog because of her overall performance this year. She’s doing well enough on hardcourt, but Rybakina is on another level right now. She’s not only playing well, she’s playing consistently, and she typically only seems to lose when the competition is better than her. I think Rybakina cruises to the finals of this tournament.
That being said, Rybakina winning is a value bet for sure.
Value bet/ the best odds: Rybakina winning 2:0 @1.80 @WilliamHill
Kalinskaya – Raducanu: Time 22:00
H2H: 0-0
Anna Kalinskaya and Emma Raducanu have never met before Washington. While both women occupy similar territory in the world rankings and both made the 2022 quarterfinal of this very tournament, their semifinal match will be their first encounter. Kalinskaya is in something of a slump. She is 5-5 in her last ten, and she’s 4-6 in her hardcourt matches in 2025. Raducanu is 10-6 in hardcourt matches, and she’s 7-3 in her last ten matches.
Best Bet to Make
Raducanu is the favorite in this match, and I completely agree. While she and Kalinskaya enter the match in similar form, Raducanu has been more efficient and consistent lately. One could also argue that she has the better wins recently, though Kalinskaya’s win over Jessica Pegula is the best individual win during that time. At 1.73 on William Hill, Raducanu has decent value for being a favorite.
That being said, Raducanu winning is a value bet for sure.
Value bet/ the best odds: Raducanu winning @1.73 @WilliamHill
Kalinskaya – Raducanu: Time 22:00
Best Bet to Make
Raducanu is such a big favorite in this match that placing a correct score wager might not be out of line. William Hill is offering 2.8 on Raducanu winning two sets to nil. Raducanu has faced little by way of resistance in her last ten matches, with only two of them going to three sets. Kalinskaya has also shown a real tendency to struggle on a hardcourt, and that should allow Raducanu the freedom to dictate the match tempo and claim an easy victory.
That being said, Raducanu winning is a value bet for sure.
Value bet/ the best odds: Raducanu winning 2:0 @2.8 @WilliamHill
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
