While most of the tennis world has their attention on Madrid, a quality week of tennis has unfolded in Saint-Malo. The final four are now set in France and on Saturday they will battle for a place in the final of the WTA 125k event. Viktorija Golubic is the only seed left standing and probably the favourite to lift the title. However, home favourite Harmony Tan will be hoping to stop the Swiss in her tracks. We also take a look at whether Varvara Gracheva or Jasmine Paolini will be the second contestant in the final in our WTA Saint-Malo semifinal predictions.
WTA Saint-Malo Semifinal Predictions
Jasmine Paolini vs Varvara Gracheva
Head-to-head: First meeting
Both of these players have played great tennis to make it this far in tournament. Paolini beat Nina Stojanovic and Anna Schmiedlova in her last two matches to book her place in the semis. Similarly, Gracheva secured good wins against Claura Tauson and Rebecca Peterson in earlier rounds.
It’s hard to know who to give the edge to here. Paolini is slightly more comfortable on clay, but Gracheva seems to have a better overall game and has picked up more impressive wins this week. Gracheva did win the ITF version of this event two weeks ago and that fond memory will surely drive her belief that she can go the distance this week. However, Paolini is far more experienced on the red dirt and I think that experience may well prove the difference in this match. Expect this to go the distance, but take the Italian to just edge it in the end.
Prediction: Paolini in 3
Viktorija Golubic vs Harmony Tan
Head-to-head: 1 – 0 Golubic
Golubic is having a decent 2021 so far by all accounts. The Swiss is back inside the top 100 on the women’s tour after finals appearances in both Lyon and Monterrey. She looks to be continuing that rich vein of form this week with an impressive win over Aleksandra Sasnovich in the last round. Golubic had lost her five previous encounters with the Belarusian but was dominant in this one, winning 6-1 6-0 in quick time. If she keeps up that level she will be hard to stop.
In her way is home favourite Harmony Tan. The young Frenchwoman has been surprisingly solid on clay this year. That is especially true given her lack of success on the surface so far in her career. She made the semi-final in Bogota last month and has managed to go equally far in this event. Nonetheless, she lacks the weaponry of Golubic and I think she will fall short at this stage again on Saturday. Pick the Swiss to win here.
Prediction: Golubic in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
