The ultimate event of the year is here, pitting the top eight women in the world against each other in the WTA Finals. It’s been a bumpy road for many of our qualifiers but there is no doubt every player thoroughly deserves to be here. The indoor conditions should reward a powerful game so expect heavy-hitting from the word go. Aryna Sabalenka and Maria Sakkari, two of the heaviest hitters in the game, take on US Open finalist Ons Jabeur and Guadalajara champion Jessica Pegula respectively on the first day of action. LWOT are here as always to try and predict the outcome of both matches.
WTA Finals Day 1 Predictions
Maria Sakkari vs Jessica Pegula
Head-to-head: 3-2 Sakkari
Will this be any different from the Guadalajara final? Though Jess Pegula was able to put Maria Sakkari’s forehand under pressure in that match with her great changes in direction, slices and meticulous depth, many of those advantages will now be lost at Fort Worth. Sakkari’s forehand should be considered more of a threat in a match with lower stakes and, in calmer conditions, slices will possess far less bite than they did in the high altitude of Guadalajara.
For Sakkari, the steady indoor conditions will benefit her booming serve and her groundstrokes given she has the bigger game of the two.
For all of those advantages however, it’s still a tough one to call. Pegula possesses the far more reliable game. We expect Pegula’s form will win her a set but we’re not going to underrate Sakkari.
Prediction: Sakkari in 3
Ons Jabeur vs Aryna Sabalenka
Head-to-head: 2-1 Sabalenka
Just like Sakkari, Aryna Sabalenka is another player that shouldn’t be underestimated, especially indoors. Her game is probably the most powerful of the entire field so the steady conditions will definitely suit her. Still, when the double faults arrive, they do so in droves. We know it’s a deceleration issue that plagues Sabalenka’s second-serve so it’s got nothing to do with external factors like conditions.
If someone in the field were able to coax double faults out of Sabalenka, Ons Jabeur is probably the woman for the job. Her ability to take returns early and send them back to her opponent’s feet is arguably unmatched.
It’s pretty much guaranteed to go to a third set. Sabalenka has played more third sets this year than anyone else on the tour and Jabeur has a knack for digging in in the face of adversity. By the end of the match though, we’re going to assume the troughs will have outnumbered the peaks for Sabalenka given how tough Jabeur will be for her to play.
Prediction: Jabeur in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
