After a long day of tennis under the hot sun that even had a fan fainting in the stands, the semifinals of the 2022 Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic in San Jose are set.
Daria Kasatkina vs Paula Badosa
Paula Badosa reached the semifinals with a 7-6(4) 6-2 victory over Coco Gauff. The second-seeded Badosa knows she will have to switch gears from her two previous matches here against big hitters when she faces Kasatkina.
The Spaniard expects the challenge to be more tactical and explained, “I will have to try to be aggressive, but at the same time, maybe stay a little bit calm because I know she likes to run, she likes to defend, she likes to make you desperate a little bit.”
Daria Kasatkina advances after a tough battle with Aryna Sabalenka, winning 4-6 7-5 6-0. The seventh seed does not expect her match against the world number 4 Badosa to be any easier.
Kasatkina told media, “Paula is an incredible player. She’s on the top and playing very good. She’s one of the most aggressive players on tour and she loves half court.”
They have played each other twice, both times this year. Kasatkina won their most recent match in Rome, and Badosa beat her in Sydney.
Shelby Rogers vs Veronika Kudermetova
Shelby Rogers reached the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic semifinals with a 6-4 6-4 victory over fellow American Amanda Anisimova. The unseeded Rogers has the distinction of being the only semifinalist to advance without dropping a set in the whole tournament.
The world No.45 Rogers is prepared and confident going into the match, and comfortable with her opponent’s strengths. The 29-year-old told the press about her next opponent Kudermetova, “she’s just such an aggressive player and she doesn’t give you any free points. I’m really going to have to play a clean match and again, like tonight, try to neutralize as much as I can and just be okay with her hitting a lot of winners and take care of what I can control and focus on what’s on my side of the court.”
Rogers and Kudermetova have played twice before and each won one match, Kudermetova the most recent in Miami earlier this year.
Veronika Kudermetova beat Ons Jabeur 7-6(5) 6-2 to reach the San Jose semifinals. The ninth-seeded Kudermetova described Rogers as a strong server who has given her tough matches in the past, and so she is approaching Saturday with a simple strategy, “I will focus on my plan and on my game and we will see.”
The singles world No.19 Kudermetova is playing in the doubles semifinal as well, but she is undeterred by the commitments, saying, “I’ve gotten used to it. All the time I play doubles and singles together. I am ready.”
The Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic semifinal matches begin Saturday at 15:00 local time.
I’m loving the Nike kit!
Not exactly the line up I would have wanted (the exact opposite) to but ok. Hope the semis are good matches