finally capture a big title<\/a>. The Tunisian is the highest ranked player remaining heading into the semifinals, the favorite to go all the way. Standing in Jabeur\u2019s way in the semifinals is a familiar foe. Ekaterina Alexandrova holds a surprisingly dominant 6-1 head-to-head record over Jabeur. However, the majority of those wins came before Jabeur\u2019s rise to the top of the game. We could see a different on this occasion.<\/p>\nJabeur made a scratchy start to the tournament with wins over Jasmine Paolini 7-6 6-1 and Varvara Gracheva 7-5 0-6 6-4. The 27-year-old has stepped up her game in her last couple of matches against quality opponents as she recorded wins over Belinda Bencic 6-2 3-6 6-2 and Simona Halep 6-3 6-2. Jabeur\u2019s dominant win over Halep in the quarterfinals was especially impressive when considering the Romanian\u2019s brilliant record in Madrid and ominous form this week.<\/p>\n
Ekaterina Alexandrova has greatly exceeded all expectations this week. The 27-year-old started the tournament in the qualifying draw where she recorded wins over Tamara Korpatsch 6-4 6-4 and Clara Burel 6-1 6-1. A 6-2 4-6 6-4 upset win over the 10th seeded Jelena Ostapenko in the first round of the main draw set the scene for a deep run. A 6-4 7-5 second round win over Nuria Parrizas-Diaz was followed by a gutsy three hour plus 6-7 6-0 7-5 win against Marie Bouzkova. Alexandrova secured her spot in the semifinals with a 6-4 6-3 triumph over Amanda Anisimova.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ll be siding with Ons Jabeur here, despite the negative head-to-head record and Alexandrova\u2019s strong form this tournament. Jabeur can\u2019t afford to lose this match; she knows it. For too long she has struggled in big matches, that has to change here. The Tunisian looked fantastic against Halep in the previous round, a similar level will be too much for Alexandrova to handle. Jabeur has the perfect mix of power and versatility to deal with Alexandrova in these conditions. Jabeur will get more opportunities, she\u2019s playing well enough to take them. Alexandrova has already gone much further than anyone could have expected this tournament, her luck runs out here. Jabeur is a class above and should show it.
\nPrediction: Jabeur in 2<\/em><\/p>\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>