The semifinals are set at the Unicredit Iasi Open, and two exciting matches are coming our way this Saturday. Paula Badosa keeps winning and will face Tamara Zidansek in the semifinal. #3 seed Oleksandra Oliynykova is the highest seed remaining and will play Egypt’s Mayar Sherif. As always, we at LWOT predict both matches, but which players will advance to the finals?
WTA Iasi Open Semifinal Predictions
Oleksandra Oliynykova vs Mayar Sherif
Head-to-Head: Oliynykova 1-0 Sherif
Mayer Sherif defeated Yulia Putintseva in a three-set thriller and advanced to her first tour-level semifinals since 2024. She is peaking at the right time and is now on a 13-match win streak on clay in all competitions. However, playing so many matches in such a short time must have some effect on her body, and Oleksandra Oliynykova will like her chances if this match turns into a marathon. Oliynykova hasn’t dropped a set this week and won a tight contest when these two met earlier this season. I sense a similar result once again.
Prediction: Oliynykova in 3
Paula Badosa vs Tamara Zidansek
Head-to-Head: Badosa 0-1 Zidansek
Paula Badosa defeated Panna Udvardy in two tight sets to reach her first WTA semifinal since the 2025 Australian Open. It was a much cleaner match from Badosa compared to the second round, and she must be delighted with the prospect of making a tour-level final after a long time. She is now on an eight-match win streak in all competitions, and one more win would almost secure her a direct entry at the US Open.
Tamara Zidansek upset #2 seed Petra Marcinko in the quarterfinals and gets another opportunity to reach a tour-level final for the first time since 2021. Clay is her best surface, and she is playing solid tennis. These two have only played once before, in the quarterfinals of the 2021 French Open, which Zidansek won 8-6 in the third set. I think Badosa will take revenge this time.
Prediction: Badosa in 3
