I think Petkovic would beat Kevin McHale as well

[9] Andrea Petkovic (GER) vs [12] Carla Suárez Navarro (ESP)

In March Madness terms, this is a surprising semifinal.  Each would be seeded 3rd in the NCAA basketball tournament based upon world rankings, but neither would have been viewed as a title threat before the event began.  Yet, one of them will be playing for the championship.  The gods of the draw smiled upon them as Serena vs. Halep would be a battle of #1 seeds in college hoops.

Petkovic is seeded 9th largely based on points she earned at Roland Garros last year.  Petkovic is physically strong and competes well.  CSN has a great one-handed backhand and is also a fighter on court.  In fact, all four semifinalists would be categorized as determined competitors when looking at intangible qualities.*

This match is a 50-50 affair in my mind.  I think on a slow hard court, Petkovic’s strength will be a major asset.  I am a big believer that a player’s such as CSN who can play with a variety of spins always have an edge.

My prediction: Andrea Petkovic d. Carla Suárez Navarro 6-4, 3-6, 6-4

* – This is a lesson I think junior players need to absorb.  Being willing to dig in in a match and pay the price has a lot to do with success.  Technique and mental fortitude need to be taught to junior players.