The semifinals of the Prague Open are here! After a long week of tennis, we have reached the semifinal stage, as four women gun to take the title in Prague. The semifinals includes two Czech players, as Karolina Muchova and Barbora Strycova are playing great tennis in their home country. Who will reach the final? Let’s find out!
Prague Open Semifinal Predictions
Bernarda Pera vs Karolina Muchova
Head to Head: Never Played
Surprise semifinalists go to battle as World No. 105 Bernarda Pera takes on World No. 106 Karolina Muchova in Prague. Bernarda Pera started off the tournament well, not dropping a set in her first two matches. Then, her quarterfinal matchup, she was very mentally strong in defeating Qiang Wang. After winning the first set 6-0, Pera lost a tight second set to Wang in a tiebreak. However, Pera did not falter mentally, and broke Wang in four of five services games and won the match in three sets.
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Karolina Muchova won her first straight sets match of the week today, beating Natalia Vikhlyantseva comfortably in straight sets. After tough battles against Iga Swiatek and Jennifer Brady, it must have come as a relief for Muchova to win this match in straight sets. While there is some pressure playing in one’s home country, Muchova seems to be handling it very well.
This match will come down to two factors: the effectiveness of the Pera forehand and the ability of Muchova to impose her all-court game on Pera. With the home crowd behind her, look for Muchova to get the job done in a tight match.
Prediction: Muchova in 3
Barbora Strycova vs Jil Teichmann
Head to Head: Never Played
World No.39 Barbora Strycova is handling the pressure of playing in her home country well, but World No. 146 Jil Teichmann will be looking to pull the upset in the second semifinal of the day in Prague. Barbora Strycova has not dropped a set all week on her way to the semifinals. After taking out Mona Barthel and Jessica Pegula in straight sets, she only gave up three games and destroyed Katerina Siniakova in the quarterfinals. With an Istanbul semifinals appearance last week, it is clear that Strycova is in good form.
After qualifying for the tournament, Teichmann has made good of her spot in the main draw, reaching the semifinals. This included wins over Ekaterina Alexandrova and former World No. 2 Svetlana Kuznetsova. Teichmann did well to back up her wins over Kuznetsova, as she demolished Tamara Korpatsch, only giving up three games all match. The win over Korpatsch makes it six wins in a row for Teichmann.
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This match will come down to the effectiveness of the Teichmann forehand against Strycova’s world-class counterpunching, along with whether or not Teichmann starts to feel fatigue during her seventh match this week. Expect Strycova’s counterpunching ability to be too good, as Teichmann fades as the match goes on in Prague.
Prediction: Strycova in 2
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