 Barbara Kojikova vs Jessica Bogula is the second semi-final in the Dubai Championships for the ladies for 2023, and both ladies have had different paths to get to the semi-final stage. Kojikova entered the tournament unseated and will take on Bogu in the first round, but this was no problem as she got through in straight sets 6-4, 6-2. In the second round she'd take on the number 7 seed, Kazakina, a player she had lost to earlier in the season. This one went down to the wire with Kojikova's getting through 6-4, 4-6, 7-5. In the third round she'd take on Countrywoman Kovitava, the number 12 seed, who had been very solid thus far, but Kojikova was too strong getting through in straight sets 6-3, 6-2. In the quarter-finals she'd take on the undefeated Sabalenka, the number 2 seed in the Australian Open Champion. And after losing the first set 6-1, it looked like Kojikova was out of the tournament, but with a good comeback in the second, Kojikova absolutely beat down Sabalenka in the end, handing her her first loss of the year, winning love 6-7, 6-6-1 to advance to the semi-finals. Pagula entered the tournament as the number 3 seed and would get a buy in the first round. In the second round she'd take on the qualifier to Mova, and after dropping the second set, Pagula had to fight to win in 3, eventually getting through 6-2, 5-7, 6-1. In the third round she'd take on another qualifier Bogdan, who had just beaten Shelby Rodgers in the last round. But Pagula was too strong eventually getting through in straights 6-4, 6-3. In the quarter-finals she was to play Mukava, the unceded player who'd just come off beating Bencic in the previous round, but unfortunately Mukava had to withdraw due to an abdominal strain, giving Pagula the walkover and a spot in the semi-finals. These two players have only played the one time before, but that time was actually at the Australian Open, only a month ago, and after a very close first set Pagula actually got the win in straights sets, so this one's set up to be a blockbuster. If Kojikova's going to win this one, she needs to do what she did against Sabalenka and use her variety. Her forehand after the first set was on point, and her serve was really really good as well, so she needs to use both of those things to push Pagula around so she can win this match. If Pagula's going to win this one, she just needs to make Kojikova hit a lot of shots, because what happened in the first set against Sabalenka, Kojikova hits so many errors, and if Pagula can just keep getting the ball back, maybe that'll bait Kojikova into hitting some errors and giving Pagula some free points to get through. This is going to be a very fun match, and I expect this to be the blockbuster out of the two semi-finals and possibly the three-setter. I'm going to go with Pagula. I think Pagula right now is just in a little better form, and I reckon Pagula is looking forward to playing Shriontek again and trying to get some revenge after what happened last week. So I'm going to go with Pagula in three, but expect a blockbuster, and let me know down in the comments below who have you gotten this one.