Just four players remain in Dubai; the bottom half has been ravaged with upsets, but there’s a tasty looking semi-final between two of the hottest players of 2015 so far. The top half has stuck with the seeding and should produce an equally enticing semi-final. I’ve had an awesome week in Racket Rally and my late decision to get some extra shares in Garbine Muguruza has been a rare tactical success! There will be another update at the weekend along with a string of new previews for tournaments in Doha, Acapulco and Dubai (ATP).
1. Karolina Pliskova v Garbine Muguruza (Dubai, SF)
I’m running out of adjectives to describe Karolina Pliskova. The Czech player continued her awesome start to the year with a come-from-behind win over Lucie Safarova, 3-6 7-6(5) 6-1 in the first of the quarter-finals in Dubai on Thursday. Again, I was live score watching… I got comfortable at the start of the second set with Lucie up a set and a break. She was unable to hold on to the advantage as Pliskova hung tough, bagged the tiebreak and then rolled through the final set. It was a gutting loss for Lucie, but definitely a positive week. As I said yesterday, I feel like Lucie’s season has properly started now and i’m excited to see what she can do in Doha. Let’s just hope she doesn’t play Karolina again anytime soon!
In the semi-finals, Pliskova will play Garbine Muguruza. The Spaniard beat her doubles partner, Carla Suarez Navarro, 6-7(4) 6-3 6-3 in two hours and 19 minutes. I keep saying that Pliskova will eventually run out of steam, but she just keeps jogging along very nicely. In their only previous match-up, Muguruza came from a set down to beat Pliskova at the French Open in 2013 to prevail, 4-6 7-5 6-3. It’s tough to separate these two. Both have made great starts to 2015 and both will be tired, especially Pliskova. I’m going to stick with my orginal pre-quarter final prediction and go for Muguruza to reach the final. I expect this to be close…
Prediction: Muguruza d. Pliskova in 3 sets
2. Simona Halep v Caroline Wozniacki (Dubai, SF)
Simona Halep edged Ekaterina Makarova in a thrilling third set of their quarter-final match to book her place in the last four of the Dubai Duty Free Championships Halep won, 6-3 1-6 7-5 in her toughest match of the week by far. She was unable to serve out the match at *5-3 with Makarova producing some brilliant tennis and delightful angles. Both players were as loud and intense as i’ve ever heard / seen them. In the end, Makarova’s resistance faltered in the final game as Halep finally took advantage of a match point having blown a couple. The stats weren’t pretty, but it was an entertaining finish to the match. Halep hit 14 winners to 42(!) unforced errors, while Makarova fared slightly better with 23 winners to 34 unforced errors.
Caroline Wozniacki hasn’t looked very well this week, but she put in another gritty performance as she beat Flavia Pennetta, 7-5 6-0. The match was very similar to her third round match against Alize Cornet. It was disappointing how both Cornet and Pennetta completely left the building (Pennetta seemed to be struggling with an injury), but I don’t think the same will happen tomorrow. Wozniacki has done remarkably well to make the semi-finals considering she has been under the weather, but I think Halep will be too strong in the semi-finals.
Prediction: Halep d. Wozniacki in 2 sets
Moo's Tennis Blog 
I’ve been eagerly waiting for a Muguruza / Pliskova match, but I’m dreading this now because Karolina must be completely empty. She barely managed to get herself back into the Safarova match and at one point she looked like she was going to give in and let go… I think this will be similar to her match against CSN in Antwerp.
I’m going for Halep over Wozniacki because shes my predicted winner. But I think Muguruza may beat Halep if they both win here.
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I like both MUG and Karo. I think MUG has to play doubles with CSN after the QF match, I am not sure if this will hurt a bit. Both girls will feel tired for sure. I think MUG only has plan A is to hit the balls really hard in every attempt. So far, she played with powerless opponents so she could do it without hurting her end results. I think she will be tested this time and she will hit excessive unforced errors and double faults if she continue to play without plan B. Generally, I think Karo baseline games and forehand can hurt MUG just like CSN did it today with turbo power. Please do not forget Safarova did play very well today and lost. MUG plays similar style like Safarova in a lesser extent. I think Karo will win this one in three sets unless she is off again.
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I think Muguruza is more than power. She takes the ball on EARLY which big hitters like Pliskova do NOT like, because they can’t get a good swing at the ball. Having said that Pliskova *should* win (if they were both rested coming in) because her serve is too heavy and deep and reliable, even on a second serve, for Garbine to come in. And Muguruza has a shaky second serve that Pliskova could hit winners off all day.
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To me, their previous encounter was irrelevant in this match up. Both girls will feel tired. MUG actually has to play two sessions in each day (afternoon and night) with extra two hours in this tournament. I think whoever can recover faster and stay focus will win the match. Technique wise, I think Karo is slightly better. MUG is very erratic and she will not be very lucky to break back twice in the first set like today if she faces a power hitter. CSN and Aga were powerless therefore MUG could hit many clean returns back to play. Facing a power hitter, she will probably fly many balls out of the court like she played Giorgi in New Heaven last year. Anyway, I am happy for both of them and it will be a good match. They will lose to Halep after bashing each other (i.e. fatigue) anyway.
By the way, I hope Woz gives Halep at least a fight. To be honest, I think Halep’s time is up if she does not win any Slam this year or another Aga in making. Halep please prove me damn wrong.
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I think Wozniacki and Halep will be a great contest. I do agree that Halep’s ‘prime’ seems limited. The way she plays tennis requires everything to work at such a high level and I see it taking its toll in a few years, like Azarenka has gone through.
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Halep has been pretty poor for large parts of her last two matches. Wozniaki hasn’t been at her best but she’s made far fewer bad errors than Halep has and has been remarkably solid for someone under the weather. Some of the double faulting from Halep today was worrying. She won’t get away with so many mistakes against Wozniaki. Caroline in 2. No second set bagel though!
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Hi Andrew & Createdsick, I agree. I think both matches are interesting. Frankly speaking, I think no ones are clear favorite in the semi. It is all depend who you like to win or can they win? I know Halep and MUG are kind of favorite to win but really …God knows! I have a second thought of Halep vs Woz and also reviewed the video of their QFs in Dubai. If someone can reasonably “push” the balls back to two corners, it will kill Halep like Kate did. My logic is how many balls can Halep runs down under such hot weather and humidity level in Dubai. Not to mention that Woz has improved her forehand and backhand fire power tremendously since WTA final in Singapore (i.e. she defeated Maria and Petra). It won’t be walk in the park for Halep. I dare not say Caro in 2 but certainly it will be a three sets in my humble opinion.
The odd offered by all bookies are very high for Karo due to her lost to CSN in Antwerp and also partly due to the hype of MUG at this moment. I think many have underestimated the situation. MUG always look energetic regardless whether she feels tired or not. Karo is in the opposite. She completed her doubles with CSN after 10:30 pm last night in Dubai. The semi starts at 2 pm and both girls have to play under extremely hot condition (34C) with strong wind (40 km/h). I really doubt Karo will be more tired than MUG. In fact, it is the other way round. It seems to be a three sets match but it can go straight in two for Karo or MUG….. I like Karo a bit more. So, I hope she can win. Let’s us all enjoy these good matches with a glass of good wine. Whoever win is good for tennis, at least we have all under 24 to play in semi.
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I didn’t realise how much I really want to see Karolina succeed until the Ivanovic match when I found myself rooting for her despite Ana being my second favourite WTA player. I just love her attitude and the way she speaks in interviews- humble and genuine, but very witty and dry. And when her game works it’s just magical to watch.
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What is wrong with Simona Halep’s challenging?! She must have challenged her down the T serve from the AD court a dozen times this week and been wrong every single time. Most of them havent even been very close! Learn your lesson Simona!
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Hi Createdsick, Simona is being carried away by her success lately. She wants to prove everyone wrong and she is right.
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