Aryna Sabalenka vs Karolina Pliskova Odds & Prediction – WTA National Bank Open Semifinals

• Aryna Sabalenka and Karolina Pliskova, who last met in the Wimbledon semifinals, meet again Saturday
• Their National Bank Open semifinal will be the fourth meeting of their career; Sabalenka leads 2-1
• Read on to see how they got to the final weekend in Montreal, and how their games match up

After a sub-par start to the season, former No. 1 Karolina Pliskova is rounding into form just in time for the US Open.

And No. 1 seed Aryna Sabalenka, who has been in good form all season, continues that as she looks for another opportunity to make a long run at a major.

The No. 1 and No. 4 seeds will meet Saturday in one National Bank Open semifinal; the highest possible seed the winner could meet in the final would be No. 13. Ons Jabeur.

WTA National Bank Open Semifinals Odds

Odds as of Aug. 13 at DraftKings

Pliskova Aiming for Her First Semifinal

Pliskova reached the the quarterfinals the last time the tournament was held.  But she ran into a buzzsaw named Bianca Andreescu, who went on to win the tournament.

This time, she hasn’t had to face a seeded player in three wins, even though Croatia’s Donna Vekic gave her a fright in her opening match before Pliskova prevailed in a third-set tiebreak.

Her serving has not been outstanding this week.

Sorribes Tormo had nine break points, converting two of them. Pliskova won easily because she broke the Spaniard six times.

Against Amanda Anisimova in the third round, she saved five of six points against her. And in her opener against Vekic, she had 15 aces, but nine double faults. She was broken three times, saving nine break points against her.

All of which to say, Sabalenka should get plenty of opportunities on Pliskova’s serve.

She’ll have to step it up with her biggest weapon.

Sabalenka Bests Countrywoman Azarenka

Sabalenka’s power was too much for Victoria Azarenka, who was beaten 6-2, 6-4 in their quarterfinal match Friday and had her serve broken five times.

Sabalenka’s serve was a little all over the place, though. Seven aces, but seven double faults.

Sabalenka also will have to step it up with her own biggest weapon.

Aryna Sabalenka vs Karolina Pliskova Head-to-Head

A Barnburner at Wimbledon Sets the Tone

Last month at Wimbledon, Sabalenka finally made a move at a major. And it felt as though it was her time.

She was the favorite against Pliskova, too, even more than she is in this National Bank Open semifinal.

It turned out to be Pliskova’s day, her tournament. Despite losing in the final, she turned the corner on her season.

If Saturday’s semi is of the same quality, it will be a long, hard-fought battle with a few nerves thrown in to keep things lively.

Aryna Sabalenka vs Karolina Pliskova Match History

Serve Will Decide the Finalist

Pliskova’s record on hard courts isn’t what most would expect, given her game style. Her powerful serve and groundstrokes should make her a contender in every hard-court tournament she plays. But sometimes her lack of…something – the eye of the tiger, maybe? – leads to inexplicable losses.

There is no shortage of that ingredient with Sabalenka, who literally roars on the court. The contrast in temperaments is striking. But Sabalenka’s demonstrativeness is likely to get her the lion’s share of the support from the crowd.

And she will be able to feed off that as she seeks to reach the final.

If the serve and big forehands are a wash, Sabalenka’s superior movement can be the tiebreaker.

And if previous history is an indication, they should have a long one –a three-setter in which the winner of the first set is not guaranteed to prevail in the end.

Over 22.5 games (+100) is a good bet.

Best Bet: Sabalenka in three sets (+250)

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