64 players were in the draw at the start of the week, now we down to the final 2. The 2019 WTA Mutua Madrid Open will be played between the current World No.3, Simona Halep, and the current World no.7, Kiki Bertens–which should promise to be an exciting and physical match up.
WTA Mutua Madrid Open Final
Simona Halep vs Kiki Bertens
Head-to-head record: Halep leads 3-2
Madrid seems to bring the best out of Simona Halep. Whenever she steps onto the Caja Majica she plays that level of tennis that reminds everyone why she is the current French Open champion. Even Halep’s former coach, Darren Cahill, wrote on Twitter “Beauty Simo.. another final in Madrid. Something about that Spanish city that brings out the best in you! Well done and good luck tomorrow.”
Beauty Simo.. another final in Madrid. Something about that Spanish city that brings out the best in you! Well done and good luck tomorrow @Simona_Halep 👏👊 #haisimo
— Darren Cahill (@darren_cahill) May 10, 2019
Looking at the both Halep’s and Bertens’ statistics this week and their overall history, not much separates them. Bertens has yet to drop a set all week, whereas the Romanian had not dropped a set all week until yesterday against Bencic, but played inspired tennis by reeling off six straight games and winning the deciding set 6-0.
Embed from Getty Images
The pair have met a total of five times, with Halep having a slight advantage by 3-2. Their most recent meeting was in the Cincinnati final last year, where Bertens pulled through in three sets. But on the red dirt, their record is tied 1-1.
Both players will need to play at their absolute best if they want to win. For Bertens, it is simple really. eep doing what she has been doing all week- playing consistent, high percentage, and aggressive tennis. For Halep, if she can find and play with that same level of tennis she played in the third set against Bencic, she has a good chance of winning.
It will be a close match. But Halep has already won this tournament twice (2016 and 2017), so she will know how to best prepare a final played here in Madrid. The experience of Halep should get her over the line to claim her third crown in Madrid.
Prediction: Halep in 3
Main Photo from Getty
