Stuttgart 2022: Iga Swiatek vs Liudmila Samsonova preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick | Porsche Tennis Grand Prix
Match Details
Fixture: (1) Iga Swiatek vs Liudmila Samsonova
Date: 23 April 2022.
Tournament: Porsche Tennis Grand Prix 2022.
Round: Semifinals.
Venue: Stuttgart, Germany.
Category: WTA 500.
Surface: Clay.
Prize money: $757,900.
Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Amazon Prime Video.
Iga Swiatek vs Liudmila Samsonova preview
World No. 1 Iga Swiatek will take on Liudmila Samsonova in the semifinals of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart on Saturday.
The Pole has had a dream in 2022, winning 30 out of 33 matches so far. Swiatek reached the semifinals of the Australian Open where she was beaten by Danielle Collins. She next played at the Dubai Tennis Championships, losing in the second round. She has not lost a match since.
Swiatek won the Qatar Open by beating Anett Kontaveit 6-2, 6-0 in the final. She followed this up by winning the Sunshine Double i.e. triumphing in the Indian Wells and Miami Open. Swiatek won the latter tournament without dropping a single set and became only the fourth woman to complete the Sunshine Double. The 20-year-old also became the new WTA World No. 1 following Ashleigh Barty's retirement.
Swiatek entered the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart as the top seed and started with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Eva Lys. She then beat 2021 US Open champion and eighth seed Emma Raducanu 6-4, 6-4 to book her place in the semifinals of the competition.
21 wins in a row ⚡
World No.1 Iga Swiatek defeats Emma Raducanu 6-4 6-4 to move into Stuttgart last 4 https://t.co/ouFwqbOd2l
Samsonova started 2022 with an opening-round exit at the Melbourne Summer Set 1. She then reached the quarterfinals of the Adelaide International before losing to eventual champion Madison Keys. The 23-year-old then exited the Australian Open in the second round after losing to Marketa Vondrousova.
After a disappointing run in Dubai and Doha, Samsonova reached the last 16 of the Indian Wells Open before losing to Petra Martic. She then suffered an opening-round defeat at the Miami Open to Madison Brengle.
Samsonova is unseeded at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix and started by serving up a double-bagel to Chloe Pacquet. She followed this up with a straight-sets win over sixth seed Karolina Pliskova. The Russian beat Laura Siegemund in the quarterfinals to book her place in the last four of the competition.
Liudmila Samsonova survives a tough test from the Stuttgart queen Laura Siegemund, triumphing 7-5, 6-3 to reach her first semifinal of the year at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix!
As a result, she returns to the Top 30 and will most likely be seeded for Roland Garros! https://t.co/vJKK0pFE9Q
Iga Swiatek vs Liudmila Samsonova head-to-head
This will be the very first meeting between Swiatek and Samsonova, with their head-to-head being 0-0. The winner will face either Paula Badosa or Aryna Sabalenka in the final of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix.
Iga Swiatek vs Liudmila Samsonova odds
All odds sourced from Oddschecker.
Iga Swiatek vs Liudmila Samsonova prediction
Like every other match she has played over the past couple of months, Swiatek is the overwhelming favorite to win. The Pole has won 30 out of 33 matches so far this season. Moreover, she has an impressive record on clay, winning 14 out of 16 matches on the surface since the start of 2021.
Samsonova, on the other hand, has won five out of nine matches on clay since 2021.
Swiatek has a very good all-round game and will look to be aggressive from the beginning of the match. The 20-year-old's mental strength is one of her biggest assets will come in handy in crunch moments.
Samsonova has a decent baseline game and will have to make as few mistakes as she can in order to stand a chance against the World No. 1.
Swiatek has been in sensational form lately and should have little trouble beating the Russian and reaching the final of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix.
Pick: Swiatek to win in straight sets.