Well, this is quite the contrast as far as WTA success in recent months is concerned. Bernarda Pera lifted her first WTA title less than a week ago in Budapest. B y way of comparison, Anett Kontaveit has five such titles to her name in the last twelve months and won her first in 2017. That being said, this will be a closer match than those numbers indicate. Pera is a dangerous clay courter with a ruthless lefty forehand. Kontaveit is capable of toppling anyone on her day but she will certainly need her best tennis against a player who hasn’t dropped a set in eleven straight matches. This has the makings of an instant classic and I for one can’t wait to watch it. With that in mind, let’s get stuck in to my WTA Hamburg final prediction.
WTA Hamburg Final Prediction
Anett Kontaveit vs Bernarda Pera
Head-to-head: 1 – 0 Kontaveit
These two met recently, with Kontaveit running away the winner in Wimbledon a few weeks ago. Outside of that, there is little to separate these two. As mentioned, Kontaveit is one of the premier players in women’s tennis. However, before this fantastic run the Estonian won just four matches between February and the start of this tournament. A bout of COVID-19 stopped the run of her career dead in it’s tracks. However, a title here would certainly start the train rolling again and at speed. She won’t have an easy time of lifting title number two this year though. Not with a player like Pera in red hot form and bidding to do the same.
The American’s career slipped a little last year. She started 2022 ranked outside the top 100 in the women’s game and had no real results of note this year. Then last week she tore through qualifying and the main draw in Budapest and lifted her maiden WTA title. She hasn’t looked back either, winning four matches on the bounce in Hamburg without dropping a set. Her forehand is a force to be reckoned with and she is playing a brand of fearless tennis that catapults players into the upper echelons of the game. It is worth noting that her run of wins hasn’t featured an opponent of Kontaveit’s quality yet. So in that regard, she still has something to prove. However, you’d have a hard time telling Pera there is any reason why she can’t go out and win a twelfth match on the spin on Saturday.
If Kontaveit brings her best, she probably wins. If she is off and Pera brings the level she has brought over the last 10-12 days, we are in for a real treat and possibly a huge upset. Pera’s run has been spectacular, but an end to the magic in a final against the world #2 is a fitting conclusion. Kontaveit looks ready to climb back to the top of the pile in the women’s game and this title will be a big step in the right direction in that regard.
Prediction: Kontaveit in 3
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