Major YAY to this one… for the first time in over four years, Andrea Petkovic and Angelique Kerber will play each other in the second of the Family Circle Cup semi-finals on Saturday.  The pair have played nine times before on the WTA tour with Kerber winning their first six encounters and Petkovic winning their last three.  However their last match was all the way back in 2011 in Dubai when Petkovic prevailed in three sets, 6-4 4-6 6-3.  This was before Kerber made her ascendancy up the ranking and also before Petkovic’s injury woes so a great deal has changed for both players.  Even this year, the pair have been moving in opposite directions in the rankings; Petkovic is slowly creeping up and now battling for a spot in the top 10, while Kerber has been on the slide and is down at 16, her lowest ranking for several years.

Petkovic’s form has been vastly improved since the start of the year and she has made back-to-back semi-finals on tour having made the last four in Miami last week.  Petkovic came from a set and a break down to beat the talented 20 year-old, Danka Kovinic, 2-6 6-3 6-1 in one hour and 51 minutes.  Petkovic lost six straight games in the first set as Kovinic settled from the baseline and played some fine tennis.  The Montenegrin played the big points well, saving 12 break points in the first two sets.  Petkovic was MAD, breaking her racquet twice (including beheading it!) and looked mega frustrated at the end of the first set.  She pumped herself up in the second set and forced Kovinic into overhitting with some more committed play.  Petkovic played a really clean final set and powered through for the loss of just one game.

Kerber continues to dazzle on the green clay; with three victories in Charleston, she has won as many matches at this tournament as she had between the Australian Open and Miami.  Kerber came back from all manner of deficits to defeat Irina-Camelia Begu in straight sets, 7-6(3) 7-6(4).  Kerber fought back from 5-1 down and saved three set points in the first set. She also saved a pair of set points in the second set.  After behind dished a third set bagel by Begu in their most recent match at the Australian Open, this was a very promising win for Kerber who seems to be getting her year back on track.

When I thought about this potential match-up, I was siding with Petkovic.  However, i’ve had a change of heart.  Petkovic keeps mentioning the fact she is tired in all of her interviews and that looked the case in the first set of her match against Kovinic.  She got herself going sufficiently but against a counterpuncher like Kerber, she’s going to be in for a tough afternoon.  Kerber should be fresher having played little tennis over the last few months.  Despite losing their last three matches, Kerber is a much stronger player than she was in 2011, despite the slump in the form this year.  Her confidence seems to be rising and i’d give her the edge against Petkovic.  This *could* be a cracker…

Prediction: Kerber d. Petkovic in 3 sets

WTA Katowice Semi-Final Predictions

Agnieszka Radwanska d. Camila Giorgi in 3 sets

Alison Van Uytvanck d. Anna Schmiedlova in 2 sets