A couple of semi-final picks from the WTA Makarska Open today, under clear skies and pleasant temperatures on the Adriatic coast. Both matches look like they'll go the distance, so let's get into it.
WTA Makarska Open Predictions
Sara Sorribes Tormo vs Maria Timofeeva
Head-to-head: Tormo 1-0 Timofeeva
Sorribes Tormo leads the H2H, but that ranking gap is hard to ignore. Timofeeva is ranked 186 spots higher, and Tormo at 304 in the world has been mostly playing at this level of event for a reason. The old Sorribes Tormo, the one who made life miserable for top-50 players on clay with her grind-it-out style, hasn't really been that player for a while now.
Timofeeva is the more complete player at this stage and clay semi-finals at ITF-level events are exactly where she should be winning. I think she gets through this one, though Tormo's defensive game will make her work for it.
Prediction: Timofeeva in 3
Elina Avanesyan vs Darja Semenistaja
Head-to-head: First meeting
Semenistaja is ranked nearly 200 spots above Avanesyan and has been one of the more consistent players at this level on clay over the past year. Avanesyan was a top-60 player not long ago but has dropped sharply and is still finding her way back, and a clay semi-final against someone ranked 110 in the world is a tough place to do that.
Semenistaja wins this one. That said, the conditions are good, the surface suits her, and there's no real reason to think Avanesyan has enough right now to flip it.
Prediction: Semenistaja in 3
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © Rob Prange/AFP7 via ZUMA Press Wire