Karolina Pliskova vs Petra Martic Odds & Prediction – WTA Italian Open Semifinals

• Karolina Pliskova is the -162 favorite over Petra Martic in their WTA Italian Open semifinal on Saturday, May 15th
• Pliskova has reached the final of this tournament in each of the past two years
• Martic is through to her first semifinal of the 2021 tennis season

When it comes to the Italian Open and Karolina Pliskova, it’s a case of been there, done that. On the other hand, when it comes the semifinals of any WTA tournament and Petra Martic, it’s been awhile.

World #9 Pliskova and word #25 Martic will clash in the WTA Italian Open semifinals on Saturday morning. Pliskova is looking to reach the final of this tournament for the third successive year. Martic is attemping to get to the final of a tournament for the first time 2019.

Pliskova’s past history in Rome holds more stead with the oddsmakers than Martic’s recent history. The Czech player has been established as the -162 favorite to win this match.

Karolina Pliskova vs Petra Martic Odds

Odds as of May 14th

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This semifinal is slated to get underway at 5:00 am ET. The broadcast is being carried by the Tennis Channel.

Third Time a Charm?

Rome tends to bring out the best in Pliskova and that’s once more been the case this year. She’s reached the final of the last two Italian Opens.

Pliskova won the event in 2019 and lost last year’s final to Simona Halep when Pliskova was forced to retire due to injury. She hasn’t lost a match on court in Rome since Maria Sakkari beat Pliskova in three sets during the 2018 Italian Open second round.

Karolina Pliskova, 0-3 vs. Jessica Pegula this season, had her eye on that earlier quarterfinal. 😂

Q. Can you just talk about the challenge of playing Martic?

KAROLINA PLISKOVA: Yeah, I'm happy it's not Pegula. That would be too much (smiling).#ibi21 pic.twitter.com/ZNmhCpNVMB

— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) May 14, 2021

She’ll be seeking to join Lucia Valero (1930-32), Margaret Court (1962-64), Chris Evert (1973-75; 1980-82), Gabriela Sabatini (1987-89; 1991-93), Monica Seles (1990-92), and Amelie Mauresmo (2003-05) among women who’ve played in three straight Italian Open finals.

Conchita Martinez reached a record five successive finals at this tournament from 1993-97.

Pliskova Rallies By Ostapenko

That Pliskova is still standing in the tournament required a true test of her intestinal fortitude and determination during a two-hour, 20-minute quarterfinal marathon against Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko. She eventually prevailed 4-6, 7-5, 7-6(1). It was the first time in this year’s tournament that Pliskova has dropped a set.

There’s just something about Karolina Pliskova and Rome.

The 2019 champ saves 3MPs, takes Ostapenko to a third-set tiebreak and dominates it to win. Into her 3rd straight semifinal at the Foro Italico.

Best result for the Czech since making the Rome final last fall. #IBI21 https://t.co/BRBu8qBIRt

— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) May 14, 2021

Pliskova saved three match points at 5-4 in the final set. It’s the second time this year that the Czech rallied from a set down to beat Ostapenko on a clay surface. She stopped the Latvian in similar fashion in the round of 16 at Stuttgart.

This battle saw each player break the other’s service seven times. The difference in the final margin came in part due to unforced errors. Ostapenko made 14 more than Pliskova.

Martic Sweeps Past Pegula

In her quarterfinal match, Croatia’s Martic improved her career record against American Jessica Pegula with a straight set 7-5, 6-4 victory that took an hour and 40 minutes to complete. Prior to this event, Martic, 30, had won consecutive matches just once all year. She’s taken four matches in a row in Rome, as many as she’d won all year prior to her arrival in Italy.

BIGGEST semifinal of her career 🙌

🇭🇷 Petra Martic is into the last four in Rome with a 7-5, 6-4 victory over Pegula!#IBI21 pic.twitter.com/2iYMAdjCuc

— wta (@WTA) May 14, 2021

Martic converted five of 17 break points during the match and rallied from 2-0 down to win the first set. Her previous semifinal appearance was also on clay in Italy. Martic lost to Estona’s Annet Kontaveit in the semis at Palermo last August.

Head to Head Edge for Martic

This will be the seventh on-court meeting between Pliskovic and Martic. It’s Martic who’s won four of six prior clashes. All six of their matches concluded in straight set outcomes.

The let cord the reactions 😂😂
Pure comedy. #Ostapenko #Pliskova #IBI21 pic.twitter.com/jUGEDaDJyJ

— Tennis GIFs 🎾🎥 (@tennis_gifs) May 14, 2021

Pliskova, though, has won two of the past three matches. It is notable, though, that the last time they faced in other on a clay court, Martic beat Pliskova 6-3, 6-3 in the round of 32 at Roland Garros. In fact, Martic has taken both prior meetings on clay.

Karolina Pliskova vs Petra Martic Stats

Pliskova’s game is keyed by her powerful serve and it wasn’t there for her against Ostapenko. The Czech fired nine aces, but also committed 13 double faults.

Croatian sensation 🇭🇷

Petra Martic bringing finesse 💅#IBI21 pic.twitter.com/qbwdjgYCG9

— wta (@WTA) May 14, 2021

Martic’s strong ground strokes on the red clay could be the difference maker in this match.

Pick: Petra Martic (+130); Martic 2-0 (+295)