After a week of high quality grass court tennis, the semifinal round of the WTA 500 event in Eastbourne is finally upon us. Both semifinals promises to be intriguing matches. Beatriz Haddad Maia has enjoyed an extraordinary run this grass court season. The Brazilian has won back to back titles in Nottingham and Birmingham, and has the chance to go for three in a row in Eastbourne. However, she faces a tough test in former two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova. In the other semifinal, defending champion Jelena Ostapenko takes on Camila Giorgi in what should be an entertaining encounter. Here are my predictions for today’s semifinals.
WTA Eastbourne Semifinals Predictions
Camila Giorgi vs Jelena Ostapenko
Head to Head: 1-1
Defending champion Jelena Ostapenko has enjoyed a relatively comfortable run to the semifinals this week. The Latvian is yet to drop a set, and she only dropped five games in her quarterfinal win over Anhelina Kalinina. This is Ostapenko’s first tour semifinals since Doha in February and the Latvian has struggled to maintain the form she showed at the start of the season. However, a good run this week in Eastbourne could see Ostapenko go on a good run of form. This week will give her confidence heading into Wimbledon.
Camila Giorgi has also enjoyed a relatively straightforward run to the semifinals. The Italian has not dropped a set, and recorded an impressive victory over Garbine Muguruza in the round of 16. Giorgi has improved incrementally throughout the grass court season. The Italian is a former Wimbledon quarter-finalist, and has played some of her best tennis on this surface. The Italian has weapons in her serve and forehand. She is not a player to be underestimated.
I think this will be a tight three set match, and I think the Italian is the more consistent of the two players. This, as well as her grass court form is the reason I think she will get the win.
Prediction: Giorgi in 3
Beatriz Haddad Maia vs Petra Kvitova
Head to Head: 1-0 Haddad Maia
Belatriz Haddad Maia comes into this match with a days rest following the withdrawal of Lesia Tsurenko from their quarterfinal match. This could prove to be an advantage for the Brazillian, who is yet to lose on grass this season. Haddad Maia possesses a powerful lefty serve that immediately puts opponents on the back foot. The grass courts suit her aggressive gamestyle, and she is definitely a player who has the potential to make a deep run, and even win the title at Wimbledon. The only real concern is whether or not Haddad Maia has played too much tennis heading into SW19.
Much like her opponent, Petra Kvitova has a fine track record on grass. Despite not playing her best tennis this season, Kvitova is always a threat on grass, and she has the power and skill to be a challenge for any player on the WTA Tour on this surface. Kvitova has been forced to work hard for her wins this week, especially in the round of 16, where she came back from a set down to defeat home favourite Katie Boulter. Kvitova possesses a powerful first serve, and this allows her to dictate rallies from the baseline.
The pair met last week in Birmingham, where Haddad Maia recorded a straight sets victory. However, this week Kvitova has had more matches under her belt. I think this will be closer that their match in Birmingham. However, Haddad Maia has had more recovery time, and I think she will get the win in three sets.
Prediction: Haddad Maia in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
