A champion will be decided today! Two-time
Monterrey Open Final Prediction
Victoria Azarenka vs Garbine Muguruza
Head to Head: 1-0 Azarenka
In the final of the Monterrey Open, Garbine Muguruza will look to repeat last year’s success, but she will face a very tough test in Victoria Azarenka. Both players have only dropped one set all week. While Azarenka has been playing at a high level all tournament, Muguruza has been rounding into form with each match, and the final should be of very high quality.
Muguruza has had a considerably easier road to the championship match than Azarenka. Muguruza has not yet played someone ranked higher than No. 66 in the world. On the other hand, Azarenka not only beat World No. 5 Angelique Kerber in her semifinal match, but she also beat four-time Monterrey Open champion, and World No. 33, Anastasia Pavyluchenkova in the quarterfinals.
Embed from Getty Images
Azarenka had to really fight for her semifinal victory over Kerber. She was a point away from being down a double break in the first set before rallying, and lost the second set before coming back strong in the third set to win the match 6-4 4-6 6-1. Azarenka is proving this week that she can still play with, and beat the best in the game, and when she is at her best, there are very few players in the world that can beat her.
Garbine Muguruza had an easy win over Magdalena Rybarikova in her semifinal match. Muguruza only dropped serve one time all match in her 6-2 6-3 win. Muguruza might have struggled some in her first couple matches of the tournament, but with each match, her confidence is growing, and her game is following suit.
The head to head is 1-0 to Azarenka. Azarenka won their first match at Miami in straight sets; however, each set was tight. Both sets went to a tiebreak, and Muguruza even had two set points in the first set. So, while there’s not very much to take away from one close head to head match, this match did show that Azarenka was able to get to the finish line in close sets against Muguruza.
Who will win?
There are a couple factors that I believe will determine this match. First, how will Azarenka handle the nerves of being in a final again, against a high quality opponent? Azarenka could very well be feeling the nerves, as she competes in her first final since 2016. The other factor, and probably much more important, is the battle for the baseline. Who will be on top, or inside, of the baseline more often dictating play. Both players like to step into the court and push their opponents around, and so being aggressive and staying up in the court will be crucial in this match. And while Muguruza did well to win this title last year, I trust Azarenka in her current form more to take control of rallies. Azarenka wins the title in Monterrey.
Prediction: Azarenka in 3
