Veronika Kudermetova vs Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA Japan Open

Prediction published on 29/09/2023, 08:06  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 29/09/2023 at 09:53 in Tennis Predictions

Eighth seeded Veronika Kudermetova caused a big shock in the Toray Pan Pacific Open when beating Iga Swiatek. That quarter final win in this hard court tournament has taken her into a last four match against unseeded Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. The winner will face either second seeded Jessica Pegula or fourth seed Maria Sakkari in the final. Kudermetova began this tournament ranked 19th but is up to 17th in both the overall rankings and the Live WTA Race. The Russian had lost four of her five matches leading up to this Tokyo hard court event. Her best form has been found though with two straight sets wins over unseeded players before beating the top seed Iga Swiatek in three sets. Only one singles final has been reached by her this year and that was in a grass court tournament. Kudermetova is 2-2 in previous meetings with her opponent but won their last match played on a hard court two years ago.

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova is another surprise Tokyo quarter finalist. Two years ago she was ranked 11th but was down at 86th when this tournament began. Her run to this semi-final has taken her to 62nd and could climb another ten places if beating Kudermetova. Her best form has been on clay with two deep runs at Roland Garros in the past three years. Only a few matches have been played on hard courts in 2023 and the Russian did reach the last 32 of the Australian Open. Back on hard courts this week, wins have come over Donna Vekic, Linda Noskova (needing three sets) and then Ekaterina Alexandrova, all unseeded. Unless the win over Swiatek has taken too much out of Kudermetova (it might be best to bet in-play to see how she's playing), she can get to the final.