Moscow, Luxembourg and Stockholm Semi-Final Predictions: Wozniacki-Lisicki and more

There are too many tournaments this week! Today's predictions were pretty poor on the most part so let's try and improve for Saturday. Here goes with another day of previews...

1. Caroline Wozniacki v Sabine Lisicki (Luxembourg, SF)

Sabine Lisicki

The Luxembourg draw is severely skewed with one semi-final offering up 2 top 15 players and the other one between Annika Beck and Stefanie Voegele, who are both in the 50's.  I clearly remember the last time that Caroline Wozniacki and Sabine Lisicki played each other, which was at the Australian Open this year where I thought Lisicki would prevail in a first round upset, but Wozniacki benefitted from a Sabine meltdown to progress in 3 sets.  

Since that last match-up, Lisicki reached a first Grand Slam final at Wimbledon and despite many niggling injuries, has become a marginally more consistent player.  Wozniacki is enjoying her best phase of the season (bar Indian Wells) and just about did enough to overturn a 0-2 record this year against Bojana Jovanovski as she won in 3 sets, 6-3 3-6 6-3.  This match-up solely depends on what Sabine will bring to the table although it is fair to say Wozniacki is bringing more to the table these days...

The most memorable moment from their previous match-ups... hilarious.

Prediction - Wozniacki to beat Lisicki in 3 sets

2. Svetlana Kuznetsova v Sam Stosur (Moscow, SF)

Sam Stosur

Would you believe this is Svetlana Kuznetsova's first WTA tour semi-final of 2013? I was surprised because although there have been some pretty prominent dips along the way, Kuznetsova has done well this year after a lengthy lay-off at the back end of 2012.  She has look remarkably consistent this week and produced a fine performance to ease past Roberta Vinci in straight sets.  Kuznetsova now takes on Sam Stosur, who has hit her best patch of form in 2013 with 8 straight wins.  She took out Ana Ivanovic in a tight two setter today, 7-5 6-4, hitting 25 winners to just 13 unforced errors.  Stosur and Kuznetsova are tied at 3-3 in their head-to-head and Stosur won their last match in Cincy where Kuznetsova was displaying significant rust from her summer lay-off.  This should be a really tight match and based on form, I would have to go with Stosur to nick the win.

Prediction - Stosur to beat Kuznetsova in 3 sets

3. David Ferrer v Ernests Gulbis (Stockholm, SF)

David Ferrer would probably not have felt too rosey about seeing Fernando Verdasco pulling out before their quarter-final clash because he is in dire need of matches before the impending World Tour Finals in a few weeks.  The Spaniard faces a tough test in the semi-finals against Ernest Gulbis, who is actually unbeaten in his last 10 matches including Davis Cup action.  Gulbis beat Jerzy Janowicz in 3 sets today and is ending the season on a real high after failing to take advantage of a good draw at the US Open where he bombed out in the first round.  Ferrer won their only previous match, but you have to fancy with their respective forms, this is a great opportunity for Gulbis to make another final and claim a top 5 scalp.

Prediction - Gulbis to beat Ferrer in 2 tight sets

Best of the rest: WTA Moscow Semi-Final Prediction

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova to beat Simona Halep in 3 sets

Best of the rest: WTA Luxembourg Semi-Final Prediction

Stefanie Voegele to beat Annika Beck in 2 tight sets

Best of the rest: ATP Stockholm Semi-Final Prediction

Benoit Paire to beat Grigor Dimitrov in 2 tight sets

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Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to beat Robin Haase in 2 sets

Tommy Haas to beat Lukas Rosol in 2 sets