The WTA Jasmin Open in Monastir will not have a Tunisian winner’s name etched onto the trophy this weekend. That is because Claire Liu authored a sensational maiden Top 10 win of her career by beating Ons Jabeur. The American will be looking to reach her second WTA final when she faces Elise Mertens. The remaining top two seeds will also go toe-to-toe in the first semifinal on Saturday. Who will advance to the championship match?
WTA Monastir Semifinal Predictions
Veronika Kudermetova vs Alize Cornet
Head-to-head: first meeting
Kudermetova and Alize Cornet will cross swords for the first time at the Jasmin Open. Neither player has dropped a set all week, so something has to give on Saturday. The second seed has grown in confidence and conviction as her serve continues to be the dominant feature in her game. A stout 15 aces in three matches (just a meager four double faults to go with) have resulted in three straight-sets wins. Cornet, meanwhile, advanced to her third semifinal of 2022 with an absorbing 7-5 7-6 win over Tamara Zidansek. The Frenchwoman needed to save two set points in the second-set tiebreak before finishing with a flourish.
Kudermetova’s glaring weakness is probably staying in a defensive position for an extended amount of time. She can overcook things when rallies go into double digits. So Cornet will have to step up the offensive part of her game to put the Russian on the backfoot. But Kudermetova’s stint in doubles will aid her cause to flush away Cornet’s counterpunching tactics. Expect the second seed to power into her fourth final of the season.
Prediction: Kudermetov in 2
Elise Mertens vs Claire Liu
Head-to-head: Liu 1-0 Mertens
Claire Liu caused the biggest shock of the inaugural Jasmin Open as she took down the tournament favorite Ons Jabeur in three sets. Liu loves playing on the African continent. She made her first WTA final at the 250 event in Rabat, Morocco earlier this season. And now in Monastir, she has defeated a top 10 player for the first time in her career. To put her results into perspective, the American has won more matches this fall (eight) than the entire four seasons combined.
Mertens, for her part, also required three sets to end the spirited run by Japanese qualifier Moyuka Uchijima. There could still be a silver lining to what has been a turbulent year for the Belgian. She has battled injuries and illness throughout 2022 and has dropped outside the world’s top 40. But Liu looks almost unbeatable. If the American exhibits a similar level of focus from her previous match and ensures she does not give away cheap points behind her serve, a second win over Mertens beckons.
Prediction: Liu in 3
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