One Canadian is rolling into the semifinal of the Citi Open.
The latest: Leylah Fernandez has found her form, but the competition will only get tougher with Elena Rybakina on tap. Later on, Anna Kalinskaya and Emma Raducanu go head-to-head for the other spot in the final.
Check out my top Citi Open women’s predictions for July 26, featuring a pick on both matches.
Citi predictions: Women’s semis
Best bet: Rybakina -1.5 sets (-141)
A lot is working against the Canadian in this matchup.
- Rybakina is having a fantastic year, holding a 33-13 record (19-7 on hard court surfaces).
- While Fernandez has been strong too, she’s needed almost six hours to reach the semis while Rybakina needed just under three hours.
The Canadian needed to play one extra match, and Rybakina has been flawless, winning every set to this point.
Some fatigue set in for Fernandez last match when she battled through cramps in the second set of her win against Taylor Townsend.
Townsend is the 97th-ranked player on the WTA tour, however, and Rybakina ranks 12th. Having those same issues won’t fly against a top-14 player.
This is a step up in competition, and the favourite has a lot more working in her favour.
Key stat: Rybakina is difficult to break. She has a great serve and is a world-class ball striker. She’s held 80% of her service games this season.
Full Citi Open betting markets
Kalinskaya vs. Raducanu best bet
Over 21.5 games (-112): These two have been consistently strong on outdoor hardcourts in their careers:
- Kalinskaya: 161-85
- Raducanu: 88-40
A lot of that comes from their shared ability to hold serve. At the Citi Open, Kalinskaya has held 85% of her serves while Raducanu falls just behind at 84%.
Neither player has lost a set at this event so far, making it difficult to pick a side.
That’s why I’ll opt for an over that can hit in two lengthy sets. If this game goes to a third set, the match should easily go over 21.5 games.
Both Kalinskaya and Raducanu have their best winning percentages on hard court surfaces. This has all the makings of a competitive matchup.
Citi Open predictions made at 12:11 p.m. on 07/26/2025.
Spencer is a true sports junkie. A graduate of the Sports Journalism program at Centennial College, he first joined NorthStar Gaming as an intern in 2023. He is now a contributing writer. He loves finding the edge to bet on in all sports but has a deep passion for the NBA and UFC. Previous stops include Sportsnet.