Yue Yuan vs Anna Karolína Schmiedlová Prediction & Betting Tips - ATX Open

Prediction published on 02/03/2024, 05:08  by Ian John in Tennis Predictions

Eighth seed Yue Yuan faces unseeded Anna Schmiedlova in the ATX Open semifinal on Saturday night in Austin, Texas. The Chinese 25-year-old has followed up her excellent performance in Hobart, where she reached the semi-finals before losing to second seed Emma Navarro, with another solid showing here after disappointing performances in Hua Hin and Doha. Australias Arina Rodionova pushed her hardest in the opening round, taking the first set 3-6, before Yuan struck back to win the next two 6-3,6-1. She then defeated American Taylor Townsend 6-3, 7-6 and then outlasted compatriot Yafan Wang 6-3, 7-5 in the quarterfinals. Crucially in that quarterfinal win, she saved four of six break points on her way to victory and won an impressive 65.6% of her points on second serve, compared to just 60.5% of her first serve points.

Unseeded Slovakian Anna Schmiedlova has enjoyed her best tournament since reaching the final of the Parma 125 on Clay back in September 2023. Her hard court performances have been more modest with her best this year being two Round of 16 defeats in Hobart and Hua Hin. Now 29, the experienced right-hander produced two battling performances in the first two rounds of the tournament in Austin. She defeated American seventh seed Peyton Stearns 6-2,4-6,7-5 in a gruelling 2 and a half hour match and then was on court almost three hours for her second round win over Saschia Vickery, winning a very tight contest 5-7, 7-6(5), 7-5. Many expected those tough games to take its toll in her quarterfinal with Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia and it seemed to be that way as she lost the first set 4-6 and was 1-2 down in the second before Sevastova was forced to retire injured from the game, handing Schmiedlova a spot in the quarterfinals.