WTA Beijing: Semi-Final Predictions

Yesterday was a bad day at the prediction office... lets see if I can do any better for the semi-finals.

Maria Sharapova v Li Na

Maria Sharapova has hit a rich vein of form following a disappointing week in Tokyo.  She was on fire in her quarter-final match with Angelique Kerber when the German player rather curiously retired having yet to post a game at 0-6 0-3.  Sharapova now takes on Li Na, who was equally impressive in dismissing Agnieszka Radwanska, 6-4 6-2 for the third time in as many months.  Li was surprisingly clean in her play hitting 32 winners to 21 unforced errors.  

Li and Sharapova will square off for the third time this year; their first match-up in Miami saw Sharapova win 6-3 6-0 in what I would call one of the worst matches all year.  Their most recent encounter was an absolute humdinger of generally poor quality but terrific drama in appalling conditions in Rome.  Li led that match 6-4 4-0, but came out on the losing side 4-6 6-4 7-6 (check).  This is a really tough one to call as but I am going for Sharapova to come through in a tough encounter that is sure to excite the Chinese crowd...

Prediction - Sharapova to beat Li in 3 tight sets

Victoria Azarenka v Marion Bartoli

Victoria Azarenka was in a hurry to finish off Romina Oprandi in their quarter-final with a 6-2 6-0 scoreline.  Azarenka lost just four points in a freakishly fast second set and will now play Marion Bartoli in the semi-finals of Beijing.  Bartoli struggled past Carla Suarez Navarro, who once again failed to put an upset to bed as she wasted a 3-0 final set lead as Bartoli won 6-0 2-6 6-4.  

Bartoli and Azarenka have not met since Miami where Bartoli was in inspired form as she snapped Azarenka's 26 match winning streak at the time with a 6-3 6-3 victory.  Bartoli was looking very solid this week but today she was less so in edging past Suarez Navarro.  Azarenka has barely broken a sweat in her last two matches and should be fighting fit to beat Bartoli...

Prediction - Azarenka to beat Bartoli in 2 tight sets

Once again, when I predict a draw will disintegrate the top seeds pummel their way through the draw! Anyway I predicted Bartoli and Li to the semi-finals, but missed the boat on Sharapova and Azarenka!