Iga Swiatek vs Veronika Kudermetova Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA Finals

Prediction published on 16/02/2023, 14:21  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 16/02/2023 at 16:18 in Tennis Predictions

Top seeded Iga Swiatek faces Veronika Kudermetova (the number eight seed) in the semi-finals of the Qatar Total Open. Swiatek is the defending champion and this is where her long winning streak began in 2022. That puts pressure on the world number one who has thousands of ranking points to defend in the next few months. The Pole is yet to win a title this year but that was the situation Swiatek was in 12 months ago. 2023 began with Swiatek representing Poland in the United Cup and won her first four matches (including a win over Belinda Bencic) before losing to Jessica Pegula and only winning three games. The world number one lost in the last 16 of the Australian Open, being beaten by the eventual runner-up Elena Rybakina. This is her first tournament since then and Swiatek couldn't have made much better a return. Her first match saw the Pole defeat Danielle Collins for the loss of just one game. The scheduled quarter final against Belinda Bencic didn't take place as her opponent withdrew with an injury. That's taken Swiatek up to 13th in the Live WTA Race based on points earned this year.

Veronika Kudermetova began this tournament ranked 11th in the world. Only winning this tournament will take her up to tenth place. Kudermetova is eighth in the WTA Race and that's mainly due to her run to the last four in the second Adelaide International. Three top 25 ranked players were beaten (one via a walkover) before she pulled out of her semi-final match with Belinda Bencic due to a left hip injury. She recovered to be able to play in the Australian Open but was knocked out in the second round by Katie Volynets who was ranked 113th at the time. The quarter finals were reached in Abu Dhabi but only one match had to be won to get that far. This week, Kudermetova had to go to three sets to get past unseeded Barbora Krejcikova in the first round. It was a bit easier in round two with a straight sets win over Sofia Kenin.  Again she had to go to three sets in her quarter final as she beat fourth seeded Coco Gauff. To get to the final she has to beat Swiatek for the first time. Two matches played in 2020 and 2021 both on hard courts produced wins for the Pole, including a 6-1 6-0 win at Indian Wells last year. It might be closer this time around but Swiatek can win in straight sets.