With two intriguing semifinals on the slate in Washington, it promises to be an entertaining day of tennis in D.C. and, as always, we here at LWOT are offering our predictions for both matches, as well as the men’s semifinals. But who will book their spot in Sunday’s final?
WTA Washington Semifinal Predictions
Jessica Pegula vs Maria Sakkari
Head-to-head: Sakkari 4-3 Pegula
There has not been much to split Maria Sakkari and Jessica Pegula so far, with Pegula having won the last match but Sakkari holding a narrow 4-3 advantage overall. It’s been a good week so far for the Greek, who got her campaign underway with a 7-5 6-2 win over former-US Open runner up Leylah Fernandez before beating home hope Madison Keys, also in routine fashion, to book her spot in her sixth semifinal this season. So far, she has gone 0-5.
Pegula, meanwhile, has accounted for Peyton Stearns and the resurgent Elina Svitolina, rallying from losing the first set to beat the Ukrainian in three. But this looks like the makings of a tough test. Sakkari has played the better so far this week and, if there hasn’t been much between them in their rivalry, that only makes current form that much more important. Don’t be surprised if this one goes the distance, but expect Sakkari to have just about enough to edge it.
Prediction: Sakkari in 3
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Coco Gauff vs Liudmila Samsonova
Head-to-head: Gauff 2-0 Samsonova
Liudmila Samsonova was no doubt bitterly disappointed to lose early at Wimbledon – the grass is usually a happy hunting ground for the Russian – but she has bounced back this week at the WTA Washington Open. She opened her campaign in D.C. by dismissing Danielle Collins for the loss of only four games before comprehensively beating Sorana Cirstea and Marta Kostyuk to reach the semifinals without dropping a set. Her next challenge will be to get the better of third seed Coco Gauff.
That won’t be easy. The American has also looked very sharp so far this week, beating Hailey Baptiste 6-1 6-4 and Belinda Bencic 6-1 6-2. Gauff has also beaten Samsonova in both their previous meetings, albeit after hard-fought three-set battles. With both players in a good rhythm, this third clash also looks likely to go the distance. But with the crowd sure to be right behind Gauff, expect the third seed to come out on top.
Prediction: Gauff in 3
Main photo credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
