WTA Stanford: Final Prediction

WTA Stanford: Will Pliskova break the top 10 in style?

The final of the Bank of the West Classic has been decided in Stanford, California. Just as I predicted, Karolina Pliskova will play Angelique Kerber for the title.

Here’s my prediction as to who will win the first Premier level event of the US Open Series.

(Rank/Seed)

(11/4) Karolina Pliskova vs (14/5) Angelique Kerber

Pliskova will break the top 10 next week after reaching her fifth final of the year. So far, the 23 year old has won four of the ten finals she’s contested, including Prague on clay this spring. However, she’s yet to win a Premier level title, losing in the finals at Sydney, Dubai and Birmingham this year.

The Czech had never gone beyond the second round here before but has reached the final without dropping a set. Though she lost her serve for the first time this tournament against Varvara Lepchenko in the semis, she recovered quickly to win the last three games and the match 62 75.

Kerber is playing like her former top 5 self this year as this is her fourth final of the year. Though she has only won six of the fifteen finals she’s contested, the 27 year old holds a perfect record this year. This involved her winning the Premier level events on clay in Charleston and Stuttgart and on the grass in Birmingham.

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The German enjoys the quick conditions in Stanford, this being her second successive final here. Last year, she had her chances in the first set against Serena Williams, missing out on a couple of set points to lose 76(1) 63.

Unlike Pliskova, she didn’t have a first round bye and has dropped one set this week, against (7/2) Agnieszka Radwanska in the quarters. However, she was all business against (20/8) Elina Svitolina in the semis, cruising from 3-3 in the first set to win 63 61. You’d have never known she’d lost her past two meetings against the Ukrainian.

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Kerber narrowly leads Pliskova 3-2 in their head to head. Kerber won their last and only meeting in a final at Birmingham, if only by the skin of her teeth 67(5) 63 76(4). On hard courts, Kerber leads 2-1, though Pliskova won their last easily in the semis at Sydney 63 62.

In this match, Pliskova must continue to serve well in order to dictate the points. As she is the more aggressive of the two, she will look to take charge of the point and attack Kerber’s weak second serve. Kerber in contrast will no doubt defend brilliantly when under pressure, waiting for the right moment to suddenly attack. I’ve been very impressed this week by the way in which she’s been able to slowly manipulate points in her favour, trading well before suddenly unleashing that terrific lefty forehand down the line.

I expect a tough struggle, but Kerber’s been immaculate in close finals this year and I predict she’ll see it through again.

WTA Stanford: Final Prediction- Angelique Kerber

Next: WTA Toronto: Preview & Predictions

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