The stage is set for a blockbuster championship match at the 2022 WTA 500 level Sydney Classic. Third seed Barbora Krejcikova faces fifth seed Paula Badosa, a pair of top 10 players that took gigantic stride forward in 2021. Badosa holds a perfect record over the reigning Roland Garros champion, can she maintain her record over the crafty Czech?
WTA Sydney Final Prediction
Barbora Krejcikova vs Paula Badosa
H2H: Badosa 2-0
Krejcikova saved seven match points in an astonishing 0-6 6-4 7-6 semifinal victory over Anett Kontaveit. It took a 14-12 final set tiebreaker for Krejcikova to get the job done. It was a final set played at the highest quality, a gutsy win by Krejcikova. The 26-year-old was previously unchallenged this week in straight set wins over Jaqueline Cristian (6-1 7-5) and Caroline Garcia (6-0 6-2).
Badosa produced a sensational performance to reach her third career final, a commanding 6-2 6-2 semifinal win over Daria Kasatkina where she hit 29 winners to just 13 unforced errors. It has been a tough week for the Spaniard, starting with straight set wins over Jelena Ostapenko (7-6 6-1) and Ajla Tomljanovic (6-3 6-4). A 7-6 3-6 6-3 win over Belinda Bencic in the quarterfinals was her toughest match of the week thus far.
Badosa claimed identical straight set victories over Krejcikova in their two previous meetings. 6-1 7-5 victories in Madrid and Indian Wells last year. I believe the Spaniard has what it takes to continue her winning ways over the Czech. Badosa’s level was close to perfection in the semifinals, she comes into this match hot. Krejcikova’s win over Kontaveit was less convincing and quite taxing. Badosa’s heavier groundstrokes generally give her the edge in this matchup.
Prediction: Badosa in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
