Expect a loud and partisan atmosphere for the final at the WTA event in Cluj-Napoca. Romanian Elena-Gabriela Ruse will seek to use the local support to inspire her to a 2nd WTA singles title. She will need to defeat Tamara Korpatsch, who is competing in her first WTA final. It promises to be a great match. We at LWOT provide our analysis and prediction for the final, as well as the other finals taking place on the same day, such as in Tokyo and Jiangxi. But which player do you think will win the title in Cluj-Napoca?
WTA Cluj-Napoca Final Prediction
Tamara Korpatsch vs Elena-Gabriela Ruse
Head-to-head: Ruse 2-0 Korpatsch
It has already been a memorable week for both players, regardless of who wins the final. Each woman started the tournament ranked outside the Top 100, but have produced some stunning late-season form to reach this stage. Ruse’s difficulties have been very pronounced over the last two years. She was only one place outside the Top 50 in May 2021, but began this week barely inside the Top 200. However, Ruse has found inspiration at her home tournament. The 25-year-old’s run to the title includes victories against the second Alycia Parks and fourth seed Rebeka Masarova in the semifinal. Korpatsch’s run to the final is also impressive. Her round-of-16 triumph against Jodie Burrage was the most dramatic of the tournament so far. The German trailed 5-1 in a deciding set tiebreak, but found her best tennis to reel off six consecutive points to win. She seems to have taken great confidence from that dramatic comeback.
This is likely to be a close contest. Ruse is the more aggressive of the two players and will need to make that count in this matchup. Korpatsch possesses an incredibly awkward style of play for opponents. She lacks the natural power of many of her contemporaries but that is compensated with consistency and impressive slices off both wings. Ruse will justifiably rate her chances in front of a home crowd. Yet I am giving the slightest of edges to Korpatsch in Cluj-Napoca. Her calmness and mental strength have been extremely impressive throughout the tournament. That calm demeanor makes her someone who can cope with the crowd being in favour of Ruse. She will put pressure on the Romanian to produce enough winners to win the title, and I think the home favourite will come up just short in Cluj-Napoca.
Prediction: Korpatsch in 3
Main Photo Credit: Robert Deutsch – USA TODAY Sports
