The final day of the WTA Rosmalen Grass Court Championships will see two women searching for very different landmarks go head-to-head after what has been a fantastic week of tennis in Den Bosch. Will Alison Riske overcome her poor record in WTA tour-level finals or will Kiki Bertens reign supreme on home soil?
WTA Rosmalen Final Prediction
Kiki Bertens vs Alison Riske
Head-To-Head: Bertens 3-0 Riske
World #4 Bertens has impressed this week as she seeks her first tour-level title on home soil. Her straight sets win over Kazakh qualifier Elena Rybakina in the semifinals was just the latest in a string of impressive performances from the Dutchwoman, who will be playing in her third final of the season. She won her first two in St. Petersburg and Madrid. Currently at a career-high ranking of world #4, Bertens was forced to retire due to illness midway through her second match at the French Open having been amongst the favourites for the title.
Bertens, however, has not let that disappointment tarnish her most successful year on tour yet. With nine titles to her name, though none on grass, she has recorded four clinical victories in Den Bosch this week and has not dropped a set. But can the Dutch powerhouse withstand one more challenge in the shape of American Alison Riske?
The American has notched some terrific results this week in Rosmalen and is on a nine-match winning streak after winning the ITF event in Surbiton last week. The 28-year-old will be contesting her eighth tour-level singles final and her second on grass. But the Pittsburgh native’s record in finals does not make for pretty good reading. She has gone 1-6 in her previous seven, with her sole title win coming in Tianjin in 2014. The American’s penchant for grass-court tennis has provided her with the chance to win the second title of her career.
The American has also never beaten Bertens in their previous three meetings, losing most recently in the first round at the Australian Open earlier this year. The stats do not bode well for the world #61 to upset Bertens then. And, despite showing incredible mental resilience in her semifinal win over Veronika Kudermetova, she may be short of energy. As good as Riske has looked in the last two weeks, Bertens has also played exceptionally well and expect her to end the American’s nine-match winning streak.
Prediction: Bertens in three
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