A couple of semi-final picks from Berlin today, and both matches are genuinely interesting in their own way. We've got Sabalenka and Pegula going head to head again, and then what should be a fascinating grass-court contest between Noskova and Eala in the other half. Who do you think makes the final?
WTA Berlin Tennis Open Predictions
Aryna Sabalenka vs Jessica Pegula
Head-to-head: Sabalenka 9-3 Pegula
Sabalenka leads this rivalry convincingly, and it's not like Pegula has been unlucky in these meetings. The last time Pegula won was back in 2022, and since then Sabalenka has just been too much for her. That serve on indoor surfaces is almost impossible to absorb for long stretches and Pegula tends to need time to build into points in a way that Sabalenka simply doesn't allow.
That said, Pegula's been playing well this week and she's never going to hand it over cheaply. I think this goes three sets, but Sabalenka's record here is too strong to bet against.
Prediction: Sabalenka in 3
Linda Noskova vs Alexandra Eala
Head-to-head: Noskova 1-0 Eala
Eala's run to the semis has been one of the stories of the week, and reaching this stage at a WTA 500 on grass at world number 35 is no small thing. But Noskova is a genuinely dangerous grass-court player. She's tall, she hits flat and hard, and on a fast indoor surface she can be really difficult to handle. The one previous meeting, which came on a similarly quick surface, went Noskova's way, and I feel like the conditions here suit her more than they do Eala.
Hard to see Eala making this truly competitive. Noskova in three, though, all things considered.
Prediction: Noskova in 3
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © Rob Prange/AFP7 via ZUMA Press Wire