The WTA 250 tournament in Linz has reached its final four. Top seed Mirra Andreeva is just two matches away from securing her second title of the year. She is set to face Elena-Gabriela Ruse. In the other semifinal, Olympic Silver Medalist Donna Vekic will compete against Anastasia Potapova. Here are the predictions for these exciting semifinal matches.
Donna Vekic vs. Anastasia Potapova
Head-to-Head: Vekic leads 2-0
Donna Vekic has impressively reached the semifinals as a qualifier, defeating strong opponents such as Carole Monnet, Iryna Shymanovich, Katie Volynets, and Karolina Pliskova, along with receiving a walkover from Anhelina Kalinina. Anastasia Potapova has advanced without dropping a set, securing victories over Shuai Zhang, Tamara Korpatsch, and Lilli Tagger.
In their past encounters, Potapova’s game has struggled against Vekic’s power. While extending rallies and moving Vekic is a viable strategy, it requires significant shot power. Vekic, a Wimbledon semifinalist, has demonstrated her ability to consistently attack and hit winners. It is anticipated that Vekic will continue this form and advance to the final, though Potapova’s determination will undoubtedly make it a challenging match.
Prediction: Vekic in 2 sets
Mirra Andreeva vs. Elena-Gabriela Ruse
Head-to-Head: Andreeva leads 1-0
As the No. 1 seed, Mirra Andreeva only required two wins to reach this stage. She achieved this by defeating the 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens and Sorana Cirstea, who is nearing the end of her career. Elena-Gabriela Ruse has navigated three closely contested matches to reach the semifinals, overcoming Katie Boulter, Dayana Yastremska, and Jelena Ostapenko.
The pressure is on Andreeva in this semifinal. Ruse possesses a formidable forehand that she will aim to utilize, but her overall game is considered less potent than Andreeva’s. Andreeva’s backhand, regarded as one of the best in women’s tennis, is significantly superior to Ruse’s. It is unlikely that the underdog will overcome the talent disparity in this matchup. Andreeva is expected to win unless she performs significantly below her usual standard.
Prediction: Andreeva in 2 sets