The first of Thursday’s two women’s semifinals are set at the French Open. We will see a battle between two players who have never reached a Major final before. Well, one of Johanna Konta or Marketva Vondrousova will change that. Who will it be? Will the Brit reach her first Major final? Or will the teenage phenom continue her sensational run? Let’s find out. Predicting this match for you today are myself (Yesh Ginsburg), Jim Smith, Eric Han, Nurein Ahmed, and Tracey Essex
French Open Women’s Semifinal: Johanna Konta vs Marketa Vondrousova
Jim:
Few could have predicted either Konta or Vondrousova reaching the semifinals, but it can hardly be argued they don’t deserve their places. Konta has dropped just one set, and in the quarterfinal blitzed last year’s finalist Sloane Stephens 6-1 6-4. Vondrousova, meanwhile, hasn’t even ceded one set yet. But expect that to change against Konta. The Briton has been serving magnificently and spreading the court magnificently off the ground. It should be close, but Konta’s experience and ability to absorb pace should just give her the edge.
Prediction: Konta in 3
Eric:
Konta beat Vondrousova a few weeks ago in Rome. However, Vondrousova was forced to play two matches in one day, so was not physically peak for that match. Both ladies’ are playing extremely well, and Vondrousova is yet to drop a set throughout the tournament. Looking back at the Rome match, Vondrousova pushed Konta to three sets before running out of gas. I think now Vondrousova is fresh and ready, she can win this match.
Prediction: Vondrousova in 2
Tracey:
A semifinal battle has aligned between two players perhaps no one expected to reach this stage. Johanna Konta and Marketa Vondrousova have truly earned their place, playing some of best tennis of their respective careers. In Konta’s quarterfinal match against American Sloane Stephens, she yielded just five games. It seems the Brit has reached a point of invincibility. Marketa Vondrousova turned in a stellar performance against Croatia’s Petra Martic. For the first time, the Czech was able to beat her four time victor, leading to her maiden French Open semifinal. Nerves were almost her undoing. And, against Johanna Konta, she simply cannot afford that teenage angst. It’s near impossible to think Vondrousova can keep the nerves at bay, especially against the strong and consistent Konta. And, that’s all the Brit will need to secure the win.
Prediction: Konta in 3
Nurein:
Marketa Vondrousova is certainly one to keep an eye on. She is only 19 but she has been on a meteoric rise for the last couple of seasons. She won her first tour title at 17, and this year she scored two wins over Simona Halep–including one on clay in Rom–and then reached two WTA finals. Johanna Konta, on the other hand, has enjoyed an extraordinary run to the semifinals, playing some inspired tennis. Nobody saw this form coming from Konta especially when you consider she had never made it past the first round at Roland Garros in her previous visits. I fancy the Brit to progress in this one. Vondrousova is playing in her maiden Grand Slam semifinal and will be overwhelmed by the occasion, and that is where Konta will come into full effect.
Prediction: Konta in 2
Yesh:
Konta dominated an out-of-sorts Sloane Stephens in their semifinal, while Vondrousova blasted past an also out-of-sorts Petra Martic. The teenager has more power, but Konta has a better all-around game. The Brit can absorb power well and frustrate her opponents with it. And while neither has been in a Grand Slam final before, Konta has far more experience on the bigger stages. We saw Vondrousova get very tight with her quarterfinal match on the line. Expect Konta to handle the pressure situations much better, which will be huge in this match.
Prediction: Konta in 2
Main Photo:
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