Karolina Pliskova and Anett Kontaveit both made winning starts to their WTA Finals campaigns on day one in Guadalajara. The pair will go head-to-head in Friday’s opening match of the day from the Teotihuacán group. There’s a lot on the line with the winner of this match virtually assured of a place in the semi-finals. Pliskova has won all three of the previous meetings between the pair, can a red-hot Kontaveit break her duck against the Czech?
WTA Finals Day 3 Predictions
Karolina Pliskova vs Anett Kontaveit
Head-to-head: Pliskova 3-0 Kontaveit
Anett Kontaveit is undoubtedly the form player on tour. The Estonian has won 11 consecutive matches having secured the final spot in the WTA Finals field by winning back-to-back titles in Moscow and Cluj-Napoca. Kontaveit made light work of her first match of the week, a comfortable 6-3 6-4 win over an errant Barbora Krejcikova. The 25-year-old was barely tested by Krejcikova, Pliskova will probably offer some stronger resistance.
Karolina Pliskova came through a far tougher first-up test in Guadalajara where she outlasted Garbine Muguruza 4-6 6-2 7-6 in an epic. Pliskova’s steadiness under pressure saw her over the line against the Spaniard and has made her one of the toughest players on tour to get the better of during the second half of the season. Pliskova is competing in her fifth consecutive season ending championships, this makes 29-year-old the most experienced player in the draw.
Pliskova holds a perfect 3-0 record over Kontaveit. The most recent meeting between the pair took place a couple of years ago in Toronto where Pliskova prevailed 6-3 7-5. Kontaveit managed to grab a set off Pliskova in their only other previous meeting on a hard court at Indian Wells in 2019, Pliskova won that match 7-6 4-6 6-2.
It’s hard to pick against Kontaveit here. The Estonian is full of confidence as she is playing the best tennis of her life over the last few months. However, the fact that Pliskova has won all three of their previous matches is somewhat concerning for Kontaveit. Pliskova’s second half of the year has been quite impressive, her serve should at least keep things close in these conditions where the balls are flying through the air. Give Kontaveit the benefit of the doubt here given the stellar form she has displayed over the last couple of months.
Prediction: Kontaveit in 3
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