The very rare surface of green clay has helped to contribute towards a very unpredictable and entertaining tournament. The two players that have reached the final have the skills on hard and clay courts that are required on the green clay and it should be a cracker of a final. Who will take home the WTA Charleston Open trophy?
WTA Charleston Final Prediction
Ons Jabeur vs Belinda Bencic
Head-to-head: Jabeur 1-1 Bencic
Everything about this match screams that it will be tight. Every set that the two players have played against each other has been close and there is very little between them statistically. It is Jabeur who has the edge in terms of matches won and win ratio on the main tour. This becomes a wider gap when the clay surface is taken into account.
The advantage that Jabeur could have in this match is her return game. The Tunisian has an elite break percentage, especially on clay, she has actually broken her opponents more often than they have held serve over the last twelve months. This skill is going to be especially vital as Bencic has the best serve game win percentage in the tournament this week.
The Swiss is in superb form though. Having reached the semifinal in Miami she has done exceptionally well to transition so quickly to this surface. Bencic is able to back up a solid serve with excellent shot production on both wings, with a good variety of shots too. Variety is the keyword when approaching Ons Jabeur’s game as well. The Tunisian took the game away from Amanda Anisimova in the semifinal with a devastating barrage of drop shots and deep topspin forehands and backhands. The vertical movement of the American could not cope with the change of tactics and it is something that Bencic will have to be aware of during their rallies.
Weighing up the pros and cons of the match-up I think that Jabeur will come out on top. The peculiarities of the surface gel very well with the uniqueness of her game and now that she is back to full fitness she is capable of playing her best tennis deep in a tight match as this could be.
Prediction: Jabeur in 3
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