Strasbourg 2024: Madison Keys vs Liudmila Samsonova preview, head-to-head, prediction and pick | Internationaux de Strasbourg
Match Details
Fixture: (4) Madison Keys vs (5) Liudmila Samsonova
Date: Friday, May 24
Time: 06:00 p.m. IST
Tournament: Internationaux de Strasbourg 2024
Round: Semifinal
Venue: Tennis Club de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
Category: WTA 500
Surface: Clay
Prize Money: $922,573
Live Telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Sky Sports
Madison Keys vs Liudmila Samsonova preview
Fourth-seeded Madison Keys is slated to take on Liudmila Samsonova in a highly anticipated semifinal clash at the 2024 Internationaux de Strasbourg on Friday, May 24.
Keys has been in sublime form ever since the start of the clay court swing, reaching the semifinals in Madrid and the quarterfinals in Rome. She carried that good form into her first-round encounter in Strasbourg against Xinyu Wang, sealing a comfortable 7-5, 6-0 win. She followed that up with a scintillating performance against Magda Linette in the quarterfinals, dropping just 4 games en route to a 6-1, 6-3 win.
Samsonova, meanwhile, opened her Strasbourg campaign with a gritty 6-2, 6-7 (5), 6-4 win against 2021 French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova. She fought back from a set down in her second-round encounter against Leylah Fernandez to seal another emphatic 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 win.
Up against second seed Beatriz Haddad Maia, Samsonova put on a clinical all-round display en route to a 6-3, 6-0 thrashing of her higher-ranked opponent.
Madison Keys vs Liudmila Samsonova head-to-head
Madison Keys and Liudmila Samsonova have faced off 4 times in professional competition, with the former currently leading their head-to-head scoreline 3-1. They last played in Madrid a couple of weeks back with Keys winning that encounter 6-2, 6-3.
Madison Keys vs Liudmila Samsonova odds
(Odds to be updated once made available)
Madison Keys vs Liudmila Samsonova prediction
Madison Keys and Liudmila Samsonova's semifinal contest promises to be an exciting one for the fans, with both players heading into it on the back of some stellar form.
Keys has been on a roll throughout the clay court swing and looks to have carried that impeccable form into Strasbourg. She's been extremely lethal on serve, averaging 78% points won behind her first serve across her opening two matches. Her return game has also borne fruit and she only seems to be getting more clinical as she heads into the business end of things.
Samsonova was also on fire during her previous encounter, after two grueling three-setters to open the competition. The Russian dominated in all aspects and were particularly good while returning, breaking her opponent's serve five times in the seven opportunities presented.
Keys holds the slight edge heading into her semifinal encounter against Samsonova given her recent form on the red dirt, but there is no discounting another shock from Samsonova, who's no stranger to them.
We can expect hard-hitting from the baseline and excellent serving from the pair. The winner could ultimately boil down to who returns better and holds their nerve in the crunch moments.
Pick: Madison Keys in three sets.