In what looks set to be an intriguing final at the WTA Strasbourg International, Elina Svitolina will take on Anna Blinkova for the title in Alsace-Lorraine. Both will be keen to continue building their momentum ahead of the French Open, whilst this match will likely have extra meaning for Svitolina as the first final she has played on since returning to the tour. But who will come out on top?
WTA Strasbourg Final Prediction
Elina Svitolina vs Anna Blinkova
Head-to-head: first meeting
Svitolina’s return to the tour after maternity leave has not been entirely straightforward – which is no great surprise, but the Ukrainian has looked very sharp so far this week. She opened her campaign against 6-4 7-6 win over Louisa Chirico before benefitting from Erin Routliffe’s retirement to reach the quarterfinals without hitting a shot in anger in the second round. There she got the better of sixth seed Varvara Gracheva in straight sets before beating Clara Burel 4-6 7-5 6-3 to reach the final.
Blinkova, meanwhile, opened her account at the WTA Strasbourg International by beating home hope Amandine Hesse 4-6 6-0 6-4 to set up a second round clash with Anna-Lena Friedsam. Blinkova beat the German 6-4 7-6, winning the second-set tiebreak 13-11. She backed that up with relatively comfortable wins over the American duo of Emma Navarro, 6-4 6-4, and Lauren Davis, 6-2 6-2, to make her first final of the 2023.
Svitolina is unquestionably the more naturally gifted of this pair. Her record speaks for itself in that regard. But she only returned to the tour in April in Charleston and this week marks the first-time she has won back-to-back matches since then. Blinkova may not have been having an exceptional season, but the Russian does have a lot more tennis behind her recently. In a match likely to be decided by fine margins, that may well prove to be decisive.
Prediction: Blinkova in 3
Main photo credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
