2020 WTA Shenzhen Open Semifinals Odds & Picks: Muguruza vs Alexandrova & Rybakina vs Pliskova

• The Shenzhen Open has been an entertaining one but a winner will soon be chosen
• From the two remaining semifinal matchups, who will book their trips to the finals?
• Keep reading to find out who we believe will come out with the victory in both semifinal contests

The WTA Shenzhen Open is down to the final four as Garbine Muguruza takes on Ekaterina Alexandrova on one side of the bracket, while Elena Rybakina will square off against Kristyna Pliskova on the other side.

These four women have been responsible for a number of upsets during this tournament and choosing a winner won’t be easy, but let’s breakdown each matchup beginning with Muguruza vs Alexandrova.

Garbine Muguruza vs Ekaterina Alexandrova Odds

Odds taken Jan. 9

Muguruza Finding Her Old Form

It’s been a pretty rough two years for Muguruza and 2019 was especially brutal.

After winning the French Open in 2016 and Wimbledon in 2017, Muguruza saw her rank rise to number two in the world. It’s been a downward spiral ever since. In 2018 her ranking ballooned to number 18, while in 2019 it got twice as worse, falling to number 36 in the world. Simply put, Muguruza was a shell of her former self.

It might be early in the 2020 season but she is off to a 3-0 start. She was down a set and a break in her first round matchup against Wang Xin but bit down on her mouthguard and fought back to win.

She followed that up with a straight set win over Shelby Rogers in the second round. In her most recent outing, she had a close battle on her hands as it took three sets to get rid of Zarina Diyas.

Tenis #ShenzhenOpen

✅Victoria de @GarbiMuguruza en cuartos del @ShenzhenOpenWTA ante Diyas (75) por 6-4 2-6 6-4#Radioestadio #Muguruza
pic.twitter.com/OvlwjtweFj

— Radioestadio (@Radioestadio) January 9, 2020

Muguruza’s next round opponent will be the first time she’s ever played her which will make it that much more difficult.

Ekaterina Alexandrova Looks to Continue Climb Up

For the past five years, Ekaterina Alexandrova has made a steady climb up the WTA rankings. She is currently the 34th ranked player in the world and she has quickly proved why she’s been making so many waves.

#Alexandrova was very good to avoid the double bag as an on point #Keys gets the 6-0, 6-1 win. Madison could barely put a foot wrong and I was particularly inpressed that whenever she was forced to deuce, that was when she played her best. pic.twitter.com/GzmLNVUi9G

— thesecondservice (@the2service) January 18, 2018

In the first round of this tournament, she made it look easy against Katerina Siniakova, defeating her in straight sets. Her following opponent Peng Shuai fought hard in the first set forcing it to a tiebreaker but was outclassed in the second.

Things got a bit more difficult in the quarterfinals against Qiang Wang as she dropped the first set but rallied back to win the following two. With a trip to the first final of the year on the line, Alexandrova must be chomping at the bit to get a victory.

Garbine Muguruza vs Ekaterina Alexandrova Pick

If we take away the early results in 2020, both women seem to be going in opposite directions.

Muguruza has been miserable the past two years, while Alexandrova, on the other hand, has been impressive.

This matchup is certainly going to be a close one but you have to go with the former two-time grand slam winner. Muguruza has seemingly found her rhythm, at least in the early portions of the season. If she can find a win to get to the first tournament final of the year, then this could mean that she’s back to her old winning ways.

Pick: Garbine Muguruza (-105)

Elena Rybakina vs Kristyna Pliskova Odds

Odds taken Jan .9

Much like the contest before this one, oddsmakers are expecting a close one here as well.

Kristyna Pliskova is Stepping Out of Her Sister’s Shadow

It isn’t easy being the sister of one of the best tennis players in the world.

Kristyna Pliskova has always been a solid player who normally ranks in the top 100. Her sister, Kristina, on the other hand, is always in the discussion for the best player in the world. It might be early, but Kristyna could be ready to make her own leap.

Through three rounds of this tournament, she hasn’t lost a set. Matchups against Irina-Camelia Begu and Kateryna Bondarenko shouldn’t surprise anyone with how great she’s looked, but her second round contest against Aryna Sabalenka was a jaw-dropper.

.@KrisPliskova knocks out defending champion Sabalenka at the #ShenzhenOpen!

Sealing her place in the quarterfinals 6-4, 6-4! pic.twitter.com/eWqGU2oS9C

— wta (@WTA) January 7, 2020

Pliskova dominated the 11th ranked player in the world and will need to be just as focused now that she is in the semifinals.

Elena Rybakina Picking Up Where She Left Off

After making headlines in 2019, Elena Rybakina is showing that it wasn’t a fluke.

Rybakina had a bit of a battle against Saisai Zheng but managed to get through it in three sets. Her second round opponent Yafan Wang offered very little resistance and was quickly ousted in two sets.

Upset alert🚨
Elena Rybakina def Elise mertens 64 46 62 #ShenzhenOpen #WTA pic.twitter.com/SW1jJ3kqiw

— Shenzhen Open (@ShenzhenOpenWTA) January 9, 2020

Elise Mertens, Rybakina’s quarterfinal opponent almost ended her run but Rybakina managed to pull it out in three sets.

With so many close calls, Rybakina will need to tighten up her game to get past the super hot Kristyna Pliskova.

Sure Pliskova has been on a ridiculous run, but it’s hard to completely buy it. Rybakina has the look of a player that will be in contention for grand slams this year while Pliskova, on the other hand, although very good, has never been thought that highly of. Take Rybakina in this one.

Pick: Elena Rybakina (-175)