The stage is set for an entertaining day of semifinal action at the WTA Austin Open with the Stars-and-Stripes well represented with three Americans in the last four. As ever, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for both semifinals, as well as the WTA action in Merida, but who will book their spot in Saturday’s final?
WTA Austin Semifinal Predictions
Kimberly Birrell vs Peyton Stearns
Head-to-head: Stearns 1-0 Birrell
Fourth seed Peyton Stearns faces Kimberly Birrell in the semifinals of the WTA Austin Open, with both having had to battle their way into the last four but via ccontrasting paths. Stearns is enjoying her best run of the season after battling through a three-setter against Francesca Jones, cruising past Kaja Juvan, and surviving a wild quarterfinal against Oksana Selekhmeteva, where her return game did the heavy lifting; she broke serve eight times despite being under constant pressure on her own serve.
Birrell, meanwhile, has quietly built momentum: she rebounded from being bagelled in her first set of the tournament against Petra Marcinko but rallied to beat the eighth seed in three and then looked increasingly sharp in wins over Caroline Dolehide and Ajla Tomljanovic.
This semifinal shapes up as a classic strength-vs-strength duel. The Australian has arguably been the steadier performer this season, already posting a semifinal run in Adelaide and winning over 70% of first-serve points in her last match. While Stearns may hold the psychological edge after winning their only meeting in Madrid last year, the Australian has been the steadier, more reliable player, and her experience will send her through
Prediction: Birrell in 3
Taylor Townsend vs Ashlyn Krueger
Head-to-head: first meeting
An all-American showdown lights up the semifinals of the WTA Austin Open, with power hitter Ashlyn Krueger meets crafty left-hander Taylor Townsend for the first time on the WTA Tour. This has already been Krueger best showing of 2026 by a distance after a string of early exits, while Townsend is playing just her second event of the year following a first-round loss at the Australian Open. The contrast is clear: Krueger has surged through Austin with controlled aggression, while Townsend has had to bide her time and find her rhythm match by match.
Krueger’s numbers underline her edge, dominant serving, fearless second-serve returning, and steady tiebreak composure have powered straight-sets wins all week. Townsend, by contrast, has lived on the brink, surviving long three-set fights with clutch break-point saving and heavy return pressure. It’s a classic stylistic clash but with proven hard-court finals pedigree already on her résumé, Krueger will be the one to play another championship match.
Prediction: Krueger in 3
Main photo credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images