In what promises to be a thrilling final, world #1 Iga Swiatek will take on Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka for the title at the WTA Stuttgart Open. Both players will be amongst the favourites to lift the trophy at Roland Garros in June, making this match the perfect chance to lay an early marker. As always, we here at LWOT will be offering our prediction for the match, but who will come out on top?
WTA Stuttgart Final Prediction
Iga Swiatek vs Aryna Sabalenka
Head-to-head: Switaek 4-2 Sabalenka
Swiatek opened her campaign at the WTA Stuttgart Open with a composed 6-1 6-4 win over Zheng Qinwen. The Pole backed that up by beating former-world #1 Karolina Pliskova 4-6 6-1 6-2 to reach the semifinals. The stage appeared to be set for a thriller with Ons Jabeur waiting on the other side of the net. But it was not to be with the Tunisian forced to retire hurt after only three games sending Swiatek into her third final of 2023.
Sabalenka, meanwhile, began her week in Stuttgart with a 6-2 6-3 win over fellow Grand Slam champion Barbora Krejcikova. The Belarusian then rallied from a set down to beat Paula Badosa 4-6 6-4 6-4 in the quarterfinals. She then secured her spot in the final at the WTA Stuttgart Open with a compehensive victory over Russia’s Anastasia Potapova, losing just three games. Sabalenka will now look to improve on her 2-1 record in finals so far in 2023.
She is proably the underdog, however. Swiatek has four of their previous matches, including at this very event last year and in similar conditions at the Foro Italico in Rome. Sabalenka is probably a better player than she was a year ago and her power off the ground will demand Swiatek’s very best. But if the Pole is able to find her best tennis, this is a match-up that should suit her well on the clay. It may well go the distance, but expect the world’s best to come out on top.
Prediction: Swiatek in 3
Main photo credit: Jay Calderon/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK
