And then there were two. It is finals day at the WTA Hamburg Open after a fascinating week of tennis. To the delight of the home fans, Germany’s Tamara Korpatsch has reached the final, where she will face Anna Bondar. As always, we here at LWOT will be providing an in-depth breakdown and prediction of the championship match, but who do you think will triumph in Hamburg this year?
WTA Hamburg Final Prediction
Tamara Korpatsch vs Anna Bondar
Head-to-head: Korpatsch 4-0 Bondar
Both of these players prefer slower surfaces, as their games are built around solid groundstrokes and physical endurance, qualities that pay dividends on clay. Tamara Korpatsch relies on heavy topspin groundstrokes, absorbing her opponent’s pace while using her tactical awareness to construct points. Anna Bondar, similarly, is a baseliner who likes to vary the spin on her groundstrokes and turn matches into physical battles, something that was on full display in her semifinal victory, where she came through a tight three-set contest against Elina Avanesyan.
In their previous meetings, despite not having faced each other in almost two years, it is Korpatsch who has enjoyed most, if not virtually all, of the success. A big reason for that is the German’s superior return of serve, allowing her to begin more points from a neutral position on return as compared to Bondar. In addition, Korpatsch’s angles from the baseline have consistently caused the Hungarian problems, effectively taking the racket out of her hands.
To reverse that trend, Bondar, who made the Hamburg final last year as well, may have to play more aggressively than she usually prefers. While that strategy could prove more effective than a patient baseline duel, it also increases the likelihood of unforced errors. In front of a home crowd and against an opponent she has historically dominated, it is difficult to look past Korpatsch lifting the title in Hamburg.
Prediction: Korpatsch in 2
Main Image Credit: Robert Prange/Getty Images
