WTA Tokyo Semifinal Predictions Including Elena Rybakina vs Linda Noskova

After Elena Rybakina qualified for the WTA Finals following a quarterfinal win at the 2025 WTA Tokyo Open, she’ll look to move into a third final of 2025 during Saturday’s semifinal action. LWOT has the preview and prediction for two exciting matches in Japan’s capital below.

WTA Tokyo Semifinal Predictions

Belinda Bencic vs Sofia Kenin

Head-to-head: Kenin 2-0

Both players could have easily been out of this tournament by now. Bencic survived a back-and-forth showdown against Karolina Muchova in her quarterfinal match here, winning 3-6 7-5 7-5 and saving match points. Hours before, Kenin saved match points to stun No. 3 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova. Bencic easily has more power on her flat groundstrokes from the back of the court, but Kenin has a tricky backhand that could counter Bencic’s stinging forehand. The last time the pair met, in Charleston during the spring, Kenin only dropped three games in a 6-0 6-3 win, especially thriving on the backhand wing. I see a closer match this time around, but look for the American to etch out a win and reach the final.
Prediction: Kenin in 3

Elena Rybakina vs Linda Noskova

Head-to-head: Rybakina 3-0

For two players that are relatively similar—tall, strong servers and sometimes inconsistent–it’s interesting that Rybakina has dominated this matchup. She’s never dropped more than four games in a set against Noskova, and with more confidence now as a WTA Finals qualifier, she should be able to relax with less pressure on her shoulders. Both players aren’t the fastest movers on court, so Noskova will have to be crafty to exploit Rybakina’s perhaps tired footwork; the Kazakh is now facing her seventh match in just over a week. However, Rybakina’s form really seemed to turn a corner last week en route to her WTA 500 title win in Ningbo, and I expect her to continue that form against a player she knows how to win against.
Prediction: Rybakina in 2