And then there were four. Just one top four seed is left standing in the WTA Lyon semifinal round. Home favorite Fiona Ferro is the favorite to win it after a solid week of tennis. However, teen sensation Clara Tauson has looked unplayable at times and is yet to drop a set this week. The Danish starlet has already accounted for Ekaterina Alexandrova and Camilla Giorgi this week. However, both her and Ferro have semifinal matches to win before they can start thinking about getting their hands on a trophy. We take a look at what to expect in their matches in the WTA Lyon semifinal predictions.
WTA Lyon Semifinal Predictions
Clara Tauson vs Paula Badosa Gibert
Head-to-head:
Clara Tauson belongs on the WTA Tour. The young star has had arguably the toughest path of any of our semifinalists this week and is the only one of the four yet to drop a set. She dismantled top seed Ekaterina Alexandrova and former top #30 player Camilla Giorgi without even breaking a sweat. She already possesses a powerful serve at such a young age, and hits winners effortlessly off both wings. I knew very little of Tauson coming in to this week, but it’s fair to say I am leaving as a big fan of her game. She has looked calm and composed throughout the week and seems unfazed by her first deep run in a WTA tournament. However, she faces another tough test in the form of Spaniard Badosa Gibert.
Badosa Gibert did well to gather herself after throwing away three match points in her second set against Mladenovic. She almost went down a double break in the third, but rallied and reeled off six games in a row to win the match and advance to the semifinals. Gibert looked solid off both wings and served well aside from that momentary wobble. She has looked every bit like a contender to win this tournament throughout the week and deserves her place in this match. However, Tauson will be her toughest test so far. The Dane brings power off both wings, consistency and a potent serve, a combination Badosa Gibert has not yet faced this week. Given her level of play so far, she may take a set off Tauson. However, I can’t see her doing much more than that.
Prediction: Tauson in 3
Fiona Ferro vs Viktorija Golubic
Head-to-head
Golubic is undoubtedly the surprise entrant in the semifinals in Lyon. The Swiss hung on against Lapko in her first round encounter but has looked unstoppable ever since. She dismantled Caroline Garcia for the loss of just three games. Next, she came back from a break down to beat Greet Minnen in straight sets in her quarterfinal match. However, she now faces the #2 seed and tournament favourite Fiona Ferro.
Ferro’s forehand was sublime against Clara Burel. Granted it took a while to get going, but once she started finding her mark she was always in control of the match. Ferro will debut inside the top 40 for the first time as a result of her run in Lyon. However, she will want more than just a career-high ranking from this week. If she can avoid the slow start she had in her last match, the Frenchwoman should take this relatively comfortably. She is a better mover than Golubic is and also has a bigger weapon in her forehand. Ferro has been a standout performer on the tour since it’s return at the end of last year. Look for that to continue with at least a finals appearance here in Lyon.
Prediction: Ferro in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
