{"id":57153,"date":"2023-06-07T07:36:24","date_gmt":"2023-06-07T11:36:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/?p=57153"},"modified":"2023-06-07T10:07:17","modified_gmt":"2023-06-07T14:07:17","slug":"french-open-womens-semifinal-prediction-sabalenka-muchova","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/2023\/06\/07\/french-open-womens-semifinal-prediction-sabalenka-muchova\/","title":{"rendered":"French Open Women’s Semifinal Prediction: Aryna Sabalenka vs Karolina Muchova"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of the two women’s semifinal matches at the French Open is set, and we’re in for quite a show. Will Aryna Sabalenka continue her march to a second consecutive Major<\/a>? Will the dream run of the finally-healthy Karolina Muchova continue? As always, our writers share their thoughts on the match. Predicting this match are Nurein Ahmed, Jack Edward, Damian Kust, Andreas Pelekis, and Jakub Bobro. Who do you think will win?<\/p>\n

French Open Women’s Semifinal Prediction<\/h2>\n

Nurein:<\/em>
\nAfter years of underperformance at Grand Slams and Roland Garros<\/a> in particular, Aryna Sabalenka is now a consistent force playing with remarkable poise and intelligence. A couple of years ago, prolonging points seemed like the ideal tactic to combat Sabalenka\u2019s power. That\u2019s not the case this season. What can unsettle Sabalenka is versatility and variation, and I feel Muchova possesses those attributes to a degree. She\u2019ll give Sabalenka her toughest match before the final, but I expect the Belorussian to withstand the barrage.
\nPrediction: Sabalenka in 3<\/em><\/p>\n

Damian:<\/em>
\nElina Svitolina had no shot against Sabalenka in the quarterfinals as the Belarusian has simply been destroying the more conventional counter-punchers this year. Muchova has a completely different skillset and one that can actually trouble the second seed. She takes the ball so early on the forehand side with great timing and should be able to force Sabalenka into some uncomfortable spots with the variety she can bring to the court. Is that enough to help her win here? It won\u2019t shock me if it\u2019s way closer than expected, but it\u2019s just really hard to go against the Belarusian right now. She\u2019s 35-5 in 2023 for a reason.
\nPrediction: Sabalenka in 3<\/em><\/p>\n

[cta id=445 type=cta]<\/p>\n

Jakub:<\/em>
\nSabalenka has been ripping through the draw and troubling her was beyond the capabilities of Elina Svitolina\u2019s defensive counterpunching game but Muchova is an entirely different kettle of fish. The Czech is a talented shotmaker with plenty of variability, her slice and drop shots being amongst the best on the WTA. Sabalenka still has the raw power to blow her off the court but I actually see Muchova emulating Marketa Vondrousova and Barbora Krejcikova to become the third surprising Czech finalist at Roland Garros in the last five years.
\nPrediction: Muchova in 3<\/em><\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>