It’s the finalists most would have wanted at the start of the week, Simona Halep and Anett Kontaveit. A blockbuster championship Sunday awaits at the WTA Transylvania Open in Cluj-Napoca as the top two seeds do battle. It’s a simple equation for Kontaveit, win this match and she will be the final player to qualify for the upcoming WTA Finals in Guadalajara. Kontaveit is the form player on tour at the moment, but she has always struggled against Halep, can the Estonian prevail, or will Halep be too strong?
WTA Transylvania Open Final Prediction
Simona Halep vs Anett Kontaveit
Head-to-head: Halep 3-0 Kontaveit
Kontaveit is on fire. Nine victories in a row over the last few weeks having arrives in Cluj-Napoca straight from winning the titles at the Kremlin Cup in Moscow. Kontaveit hasn’t dropped a set this week, recording straight set victories over Aleksandra Krunic (6-3 7-5), Alison Van Uytvanck (6-3 6-4), Anhelina Kalinina (6-3 6-1) and Rebecca Peterson (6-3 6-2). The 25-year-old has won three of her four career titles over the last couple of months, a fourth title would deservedly book her spot at the WTA Finals for the first time in her career.
Halep is also yet to drop a set this week, not even close. The top seed was totally untroubled in straight set wins over Elena-Gabriela Ruse (6-1 6-2). Varvara Gracheva (6-4 6-2), Jaqueline Cristian (6-1 6-1) and Marta Kostyuk (6-0 6-1). The former world number 1 is yet to win a title this year, this is one of her last chances to amend that statistic and maintain her streak of winning at least one title every season since 2013.
Halep has dominated this matchup in the past. The Romanian has won all three of their previous matches in straight sets, Kontaveit has averaged just 1.8 games per set across those matches. The most recent meeting between the pair took place at the quarter-final stage of the Australian Open last year, Halep won 6-1 6-1.
Ultimately, it is hard not to side with Halep here. The head-to-head record doesn’t lie, this is not a good matchup for Kontaveit. Halep is too solid. Yes, Kontaveit is playing the best tennis of her career, but she’s still unlikely to pull through this one. Fatigue is surely going to be an issue for Kontaveit if this match gets physical, if she’s going to beat Halep its going to need to get physical. Conversely, Halep is primed to peak in this match after a quick run to the final and energy in the tank given she hasn’t played much tennis lately. Halep is the better player, expect her to raise her game to win a 23rd WTA singles title.
Prediction: Halep in 2
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