Semifinal day at the WTA Strasbourg Open should be an entertaining one with two intriguing matches on the slate. As always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for both semifinals, but who will secure their spot in Saturday’s final?
WTA Strasbourg Semifinal Predictions
Karolina Pliskova vs Kaja Juvan
Head-to-head: first meeting
Although Karolina Pliskova is the top seed this week, it didn’t look very likely that she would make the last four having suffered three back-to-back losses and just two wins to six losses. In fairness, the world #8 hasn’t had the hardest of draws, but that’s exactly what she has needed to regain confidence and get some wins under her belt on historically her worst surface. In her quarterfinal match against Maryna Zanevska, she was particularly impressive in rallying from a break down in the second set twice, as well as facing four set points, and still managing to pull off a straight sets win.
Whilst on paper Kaja Juvan is a beatable semifinal opponent, being ranked just outside the world’s top 80, the Slovakian has been in fine form this week, losing only a handful of games in all three of her matches, albeit against opposition she would be expected to beat. The 21-year-old has yet to make a WTA final and unfortunately for her, playing Pliskova in the early rounds would have been a much better chance for her to beat the Czech. As it stands now Pliskova is looking a lot better than she has in recent months with far more authority behind her shots and, at times, the serve looking like a real weapon. Expect Pliskova to be be too much for the Slovakian to handle.
Prediction: Pliskova in 2
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Oceane Dodin vs Angelique Kerber
Head-to-head: first meeting
Just when you think Angelique Kerber is at the tail end of her career, she puts together a few good weeks to relight the flame. That’s exactly what the German has done this week. She came into the WTA Strasbourg Open on the back of six consecutive losses and now finds herself in the semifinals. It must be said the last two matches have been a struggle but the now 34 year old still found a way against Sasnovich and Linette.
On the other side of the net Dodin is hoping for her first WTA final in six years. The home favourite has had a nice week so far with a great win over Konjuh 7-5 in the final set in the first round and a very dominant performance against world #60 Golubic 6-3 6-0 in the quarters which not many expected.
Like the other semifinal, it’s probably a matter of the Frenchwoman getting Kerber at the wrong time. Like Pliskova, Kerber once she gets rolling can be a handful to stop due to being really hard to break down with her consistency and depth. Expect Dodin to keep this competitive for the most part but seeing her make a final in her home country might be asking too much, although it is no doubt a great chance.
Prediction: Kerber in 3
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