Irina-Camelia Begu vs Karolina Muchova Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA Palermo Open

Prediction published on 19/07/2024, 20:44  by Daniel Ngulu | Modified on 20/07/2024 at 03:28 in Tennis Predictions

Irina-Camelia Begu and Karolina Muchova, both unseeded, will meet in the semi-finals of the Palermo Ladies Open. This will be their fourth career meeting and the winner will battle Qinwen Zheng or Diane Parry in the championship match. Here’s our peek at the numbers ahead of the match and a prediction.

Begu has defeated Muchova twice on clay, which should have her confident in her quest for a second title in this event. The Romanian was crowned champion here in 2022. It was her second career tour title on clay and remains the last time she played a tour final.

To advance to the last four, Begu defeated Ann Li by the loss of seven games. The 33-year-old is yet to drop a set in this event and has improved her record to 17-7. This in turn has moved her up to 136th in the live ranking.

Karolina Muchova won the last time she squared off with Begu. That was at the French Open last year, in straight sets on her way to reaching the final. The Czech player is superb on clay and has proven it once again this year by remaining unbeaten on the surface.

She has, however, not been her dominant self in Palermo and this is understandable, as she is yet to get back to full fitness. Muchova, who has won five of six matches in 2024, defeated Astra Sharma in straight sets in the quarter-finals. Both sets saw a tiebreaker played. Muchova has played at least one tiebreaker in all three of her rounds here.

Reaching the semi-final on her Palermo debut has moved her up to 33rd in the live ranking.