WTA Eastbourne: Final Prediction

WTA Eastbourne: Will Radwanska keep on rolling?

(Rank/Seed)

The final of the 2015 AEGON International has been decided. As I predicted, (13/9) Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland will face (31/-) Belinda Bencic of Switzerland. Though few would have predicted this final, both women have benefitted from the elongated grass court swing this year as they had both played on the surface before this week.

Here is my prediction as to who I think will take home the title.

Experience: Radwanska has won fourteen of the twenty finals she’s played, including nine titles at Premier level. The former number two has played two grass court finals, winning here in 2008 but losing Wimbledon in 2012. However, this is Radwanska’s first final since winning in Montreal last August.

Bencic has played two finals to date, losing both of them in straight sets within the last year. One of these came two weeks ago when she lost on the grass in Rosmalen to Camila Giorgi. However, the eighteen year old is at a career high and knows how to win as a two time Junior Grand Slam champion.

Radwanska is obviously light years ahead of Bencic in terms of big match experience and boasts a commendable winning record in finals.

Advantage: Radwanska

Recent Form: Radwanska was in the doldrums until the grass court season this year. After setting Martina Navratilova on as her coach last December, it seemed as if she had actually confused Radwanska’s game rather than benefit it. She terminated their relationship in April, midway through a phase in which she lost before the quarter finals in eight of ten tournaments and fell outside of the world’s top ten. Her semi final loss in Nottingham was only her second semi final this year, though there were signs that the grass held the key to regaining her tactical confidence.

Bencic is still developing as a player and like Radwanska, hadn’t played well until the grass court swing. Aside from a win over Caroline Wozniacki and consecutive fourth rounds in Indian Wells and Miami, there had been plenty of early exits. However, the grass clearly suits her game as this her second final in three weeks.

As neither player had done much all year until the grass court swing, it’s…Deuce.

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Route Through: Radwanska had only dropped nine games heading into her semi final against Sloane Stephens. However, she was forced to battle much harder against a challenging wind and an erratic opponent before winning 61 67(3) 62.

Bencic has been slightly fortunate this week, benefitting from the mid match retirements of (12/7) Eugenie Bouchard and (5/2) Caroline Wozniacki. During the semis, Wozniacki was forced to retire after just three games due to a back complaint, which perhaps explains her uncharacteristic poor form this week. Nevertheless, Bencic earned her wins against defending champion, (21/12) Madison Keys and Johanna Konta.

Though Bencic has had longer to rest considering the retirements, she was wearing some strapping on her leg during her brief semi final appearance. Perhaps she’s feeling the strain of a long week, where she has had to play an extra round compared to Radwanska considering she’s un-seeded.

Advantage: Radwanska

Past Results in Eastbourne: Radwanska was once a mainstay in the latter part of the week here, winning the title in 2008 and losing in the quarters of 2009 and 2011. However, in the past three years when she was the top seed here, she failed to win a match. This was largely accountable to the tough field and it being her first match on grass. Therefore, as this year is different with a longer grass court season and a less crammed, bigger draw in Eastbourne, Radwanska was better equipped to win her opener this time around and reach her second final here.

Bencic had qualified into the main draw here one year ago, losing to Johanna Konta in her opening match, making her quarter final revenge this year all the more sweeter.

Considering Radwanska has won here before, albeit a long time ago, and has played the event for many years, she’s probably better adapted than most to winning at this seaside resort.

Advantage: Radwanska

Head to Head: The two have never met before, so it’s…Deuce.

Overall, Radwanska has a clear advantage coming into this match. She’s a prolific big time titlist who’s back in form and enjoying the grass. Her varied game is ideal for these challenging conditions and she looks as physically fit as ever. In contrast, Bencic looks a little battle fatigued and hasn’t yet won a tour level title. Though her game, centred around clean, crisp ground strokes and Hingis-esque feel is evidently effective on this surface, I don’t feel that she has enough weapons to hit Radwanska off the court. If Pliskova or Stephens couldn’t do it, then I doubt Bencic can either.

WTA Eastbourne: Final Prediction- Agnieszka Radwanska

Next: WTA Eastbourne: Semi Final Predictions

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