Tokyo Final Preview: Aga Radwanska & Belinda Bencic

Sep 2, 2015; New York, NY, USA; Belinda Bencic of Switzerland returns a shot to Misaki Doi of Japan on day three of the 2015 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

Tokyo Final Preview and Prediction: Agnieszka Radwanska vs Belinda Bencic

Belinda Bencic may have reached her first grand slam quarterfinal in 2014, but 2015 has undoubtedly been THE breakout year for the Swiss youngster on the WTA tour. After racking up astounding title runs in Toronto and Eastbourne, Bencic will now contest the final of the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, where she will meet Agnieszka Radwanska.

Bencic heads into the final following a string of incredibly impressive victories. After exercising a double bagel blowout of Xu Yifan in the first round, she fought back from a set down against a rejuvenated Sam Stosur to steal victory in three sets. The win over Stosur would prove to be Bencic’s toughest of the tournament, as she went on to defeat both 3rd seed Garbine Muguruza and top seed Caroline Wozniacki in straight sets. The week has been the cherry on top of a very quick rise to the top for the Swiss. Currently ranked 15 in the world, Bencic will rise to world no. 7 should she take the title. As great a junior prospect as she was just a year ago, it’s difficult imagining anyone – even Bencic – conceiving of this astonishing ascendency.

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It would be foolish to think that Bencic already has the title and ranking already wrapped up though, as Agnieszka Radwanska will prove a very tough customer for her. She was tragic for the first half of the year, but Aga’s form has picked up dramatically since Wimbledon; indeed, if Radwanska clinches the title, she will rise to world no. 7. Her most impressive week in the back end of this year, however, has perhaps been in Tokyo. She defeated big server Coco Vandeweghe in the first round, before taking out the very dangerous Ukrainian Elina Svitolina 6-4, 6-1. She then took out top-1o opponent Karolina Pliskova, before avenging many 2014 losses against sleeper Dominika Cibulkova. She enters the final without having dropped a set.

The only encounter between the pair took place in another Premier final a few months ago in Eastbourne. Bencic took the win in three sets, with a particularly sensational (or embarrassing from Aga’s perspective?) third set bagel. Although the encounter took place on grass – Aga’s preferred surface – both players are very much capable of bringing out their best on the hard courts – especially the slower Asian surfaces.

At just 18 years of age, it would be easy to expect Bencic to let nerves get the best of her, although she’s proven that train of thought incorrect in taking out 2 Premier titles this year. On the other hand, having both a title and a maiden appearance in the top-ten on the line may prove too much for the teenager.

Despite this, I expect Bencic to take the title. She has the more aggressive, powerful game and will be able to dictate rallies from the back of the court against the less-powerful Radwanska. She’s also patient and consistent enough to hang around with the wall imitation that Aga so often employs. As well as Radwanska has been playing recently, Bencic is just on another level at the moment, playing like a top-ten – maybe even top-five – player.

And she’ll know that’s exactly where she’ll be next week, when she’s hoisting the trophy in Tokyo.

Prediction: Belinda Bencic in 3 sets.

Korea Open Final Prediction

Irina-Camelia Begu [1] vs. Aliaksandra Sasnovich [Q]

In a surprise result, Aliaksandra Sasnovich will compete for a maiden title in Korea against top seed Irina-Camelia Begu. Sasnovich has done well to reach a maiden final this week, earning galvanising wins over Anna Karolina Schmiedlova and title favourite Sloane Stephens. But like we saw today with Denisa Allertova falling dramatically to Jelena Jankovic in the Guangzhou final, a championship match may prove too much for Sasnovich after her Cinderella week. And especially against such a quality opponent in Begu. The Romanian will use her more developed big-match experience to earn just her second WTA title against the up-and-coming Sasnovich.

Prediction: Irina-Camelia Begu in 2 sets.

Next: US Open Thoughts: Rafael Nadal & The Worst Moments

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