Czech Republic’s @Petra_Kvitova moves into #Rio2016 Semifinals with 6-2, 6-0 win over Svitolina!

Plays Puig next! pic.twitter.com/o0VUvPQSYy

— WTA (@WTA) August 11, 2016

Predicted Winners in BOLD

Petra Kvitova vs. Monica Puig – Monica Puig keeps pulling upsets, but I think if Petra Kvitova has a good day she should win.  Kvitova has easy power in her game and has a strong lefty serve.  This should allow Petra to hold serve more easily than Puig while also using her height and power to punish any shots that sit up on this slow court.  Puig’s gritty play and hustle give her a chance, but Kvitova is the clear favorite.

My Prediction: Petra Kvitova d. Monica Puig 6-4, 6-3

Madison Keys vs. Angelique Kerber – This match is much more difficult for me to predict. Kerber has a 4-1 career head-to-head lead including a straight set win in Miami earlier this year.  All of this would seem to favor Kerber.  Still, Keys being the taller player and better server may allow for the US citizen to better negotiate the slow and high bouncing conditions on court in Rio.  Kerber is a legitimate world #2.  For that reason, she deserves some benefit of the doubt if a match seems to come down to very small margins between the two competitors.

My Prediction: Angelique Kerber d. Madison Keys 7-5, 7-5