It\u2019s almost time to crown a new champion in Guadalajara. It\u2019s semifinal day at the WTA Guadalajara Open, with all four players remaining in the draw seemingly in with a real chance to go all the way this week. As always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for both semifinals, but who will advance to Sunday\u2019s final?<\/p>\n
Head-to-head:<\/strong> Kalinskaya 1-0 Stephens<\/p>\n Sloane Stephens hasn\u2019t won a WTA title since winning the Miami Open in 2018. In fact, Stephens hasn\u2019t even reached a final since losing in the championship match of the WTA finals later that year. It\u2019s fair to say Stephens has been underachieving over the last couple of seasons. Perhaps that can start to turn around in Guadalajara. Stephens overcame her toughest test of the tournament thus far when she came from a set down to defeat Daria Saville 4-6 6-3 6-2 having previously claimed straight sets wins over Brenda Fruhvirtova 6-2 6-2 and Chloe Paquet 7-5 6-4.<\/p>\n It\u2019s surprising that Anna Kalinskaya has never reached a WTA tour level singles final. That might be about to change. It\u2019s been a relatively tricky pathway to the semifinals for the Russian, but she\u2019s handled it well. Kalinskaya needed three sets to get the better of a pair of young Chinese opponents on the rise, a 6-3 2-6 6-2 win over the 8th seeded Qinwen Zheng followed by a 6-4 0-6 6-4 win against Xinyu Wang. A 6-4 6-1 quarterfinal win over the 4th seeded Camila Osorio was Kalinskaya\u2019s most consistent performance of the week.\u00a0Kalinskaya won the only previous meeting between the pair. An upset 6-3 6-4 victory for the Russian at the opening round stage of the US Open in 2019.<\/p>\n Experience is on the American\u2019s side, as is the pressure. Stephens is clearly the biggest name left in the tournament; she will know that this is a major opportunity to win her first title in a long time. Kalinskaya is playing well, but she\u2019s likely to be outclassed here. Both players are athletic around the court, defend well and have the ability to step in up and attack. The difference could be the greater margin and versatility Stephens’ game, as well her superior firepower when she lets rip.<\/p>\n Prediction: Stephens in 2
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>