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Astra Sharma and Maria Camila Osorio Serrano will meet in the semifinals at #WTACharleston2 tonight, a big match for both players on the green clay as they try to close in on WTA’s Top 100.
Sharma is coming after a 6-4 6-3 win against the 15 year old sensation Linda Fruhvirtova, a good display for Sharma who held her nerve and did not let the teenager get on the front foot. Earlier in the tournament Sharma got past the out of form Wang with 6-4 6-2, and had an up and down performance in a thriller with Brengle, winning 7-5 in the decider despite looking like she lost the match at one point.
The 19 year old Osorio Serrano entered Charleston after having won her maiden WTA title last week in Bogota. It has been a special couple of weeks for the Colombian, who impressed with her grit and determination here in Charleston. Osorio Serrano played two marathons with Linette and McHale and came out on top despite her opponents serving three times for the match in those two matches. In the quarters, she benefited from Tauson’s retirement at 6-4 1-0 for Osorio Serrano.
This will be the first meeting between the two players, both of them having great ability on the green clay in Charleston – although Osorio Serrano is the more natural clay courter, and it’s fair to say she’s also the better player.
I was charmed and highly impressed by Osorio Serrano this week. She had just won a tournament the previous week, but did not give up and made a couple of sensational comebacks. She was fantastic in both level of play and ambition, and she’s set to become a household name in tennis pretty soon.
The issue for her coming into this match would normally be fatigue, especially as she was playing with a taped thigh and called the trainer multiple times – but Tauson’s retirement in the quarterfinals will come of great help. That short match will benefit the Colombian’s recovery.
As for Sharma, I would think it’s fair to say that she had a slightly easier draw. She hasn’t been very good overall this year and even this week she was inconsistent – she was horrible for almost half of her second round match against Brengle. At her best she can play fantastic tennis, but she hasn’t quite been able to keep up that high level. Her consistency will be tested at the fullest by a grinder and fantastic mover like Osorio Serrano. If it’s one thing we know, it’s that the Colombian will not give up on points.
Osorio Serrano is looking like she will find a way to win any match right now. She’s playing great tennis and her confidence must be sky high. She seems destined to reach her second final in two weeks and even though Sharma might make it tough when / if she finds her “A” game (three sets seems like a tempting bet), I believe the Colombian is the player to back here. Prediction: Astra Sharma – Maria Camila Osorio Serrano 4-6 6-3 4-6.
Pick: Osorio Serrano
Odds: 1.72 @ Sbobet
Stake: 9
Possible profit: 6.48
Event date: 17 April
