The Ostrava final is set with the top seed and pre-tournament favorite for many Iga Swiatek taking on unseeded Barbora Krejcikova. Though unseeded, Krejcikova is in fine form, fresh from winning a title last week and won a Major champion just last year. Both players have plenty to play for, Krejcikova hoping to finish the year strong with consecutive titles and get back into the top-20. Swiatek has already locked up the year-end #1 but looks to build on her cushion and capture her eighth title of the year. After an exciting week of matches, it all comes down to this with a full preview below.
WTA Ostrava Final Prediction
Iga Swiatek vs Barbora Krejcikova
Head-to-head: Swiatek 2-0 Krejcikova
Krejcikova has had a strange year. Last year’s French Open winner had a poor clay court season, but has been great on hard court, including her lone 2022 title last week in Tallinn also on an indoor hard court. Swiatek has been by far the best player in the world after Ash Barty retired, and is playing her first event since her US Open title. Swiatek has always been great on clay but established herself this year as a top player on hard courts.
She entered the year with just one title on a hard court but has won four this year, three WTA 1000 events and the US Open. Swiatek has been near impossible to beat in finals. After losing her first final in 2019, she has won 10 in a row, all of them in straight sets. She has only had to play one tiebreaker in those 10 finals, in simply historic dominance.
As in any Swiatek match, the analysis is less of a prediction and more of wondering if her opponent even has a chance. Krejcikova is not on Swiatek’s level as talent, but her one advantage will be the court speed. Indoor hard courts play quickly, which is rather similar to grass Swiatek’s worst surface. Swiatek has also never won an indoor hard or grass court title, despite her successes on outdoor hard courts.
Krejcikova will have to serve well and play quick points because it is near impossible to stay with Swiatek in rallies. She scored some great wins last week but will have to find a new level here. Fitness may come into play, with it being Krejcikova’s ninth match in the last two weeks, while this is Swiatek’s first tournament since the US Open triumph. The fast court gives Krejcikova a chance, but it is a small one and Swiatek is just too good, especially in big matches.
Prediction: Swiatek in 2
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