A couple of semi-final picks from the WTA Jiangxi Open in Jiujiang today, with overcast skies and mild temperatures around 17°C making for good hard court conditions. Both matches feature some interesting ranking dynamics, so let's get into it.
WTA Jiangxi Open Predictions
Xinxin Yao vs Xiaodi You
Head-to-head: Yao 1-2 You
You holds the edge in this rivalry and is ranked over 200 spots higher, so Yao reaching the semi-finals at all is a decent run. That said, these two clearly know each other well and the one win Yao does have in this series shows she can get the job done against You on a good day.
The ranking gap says You should be the favorite here, but semi-final pressure on home soil can be a weird thing, and Yao looks like the player with more momentum at this stage of the tournament. I think this one goes the distance.
Prediction: Yao in 3
Zhuoxuan Bai vs En Shuo Liang
Head-to-head: First meeting
First meeting between these two, and Bai comes in as the higher-ranked player despite Liang having made it this far. Liang is ranked outside the top 400 and getting to a WTA semi-final is a real achievement, but Bai has enough experience at this level to handle the occasion better.
Bai in 3 feels right. Hard to see Liang causing too many problems here, and the ranking difference is there for a reason.
Prediction: Bai in 3
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © Kobe Li/Nexpher Images via ZUMA Press Wire