The WTA Adelaide 2 final is set and will be an All-American affair between Madison Keys and Alison Riske. The pair had very different semifinal experiences on Friday. Keys survived a tight, three-set affair against Coco Gauff. By contrast, Alison Riske was given a walkover in her semifinal after Tamara Zidansek withdrew.Nevertheless, both are deserving of their spots in the final and will be determined to notch one more win. A title just a few days before the Australian Open begins should serve as a great boost to whoever comes out on top. Who is that likely to be? We discuss exactly that in the last of our WTA Adelaide 2 predictions.
WTA Adelaide 2 Final Prediction
Madison Keys vs Alison Riske
Head-to-head: 5 – 0 Keys
Those of you who have followed my predictions will know that I picked Keys to win this tournament before her semifinal. Her win against Coco Gauff has reaffirmed that for me and I expect Keys to be lifting the trophy on Saturday. However, she likely won’t get there without a fight. Riske is the ultimate competitor and will scrap and fight for every point in this final. The former top 20 player is solid off both wings, a great mover and a willing and capable defender. She will make Keys earn this win even if she can’t match the former US Open finalist for power. Keys was erratic in her first set against Gauff on Friday and Riske will be looking to do all she can to draw even more errors from the Keys racket in this match by extending rallies and playing with good margins. However, there isn’t much she can do outside of that.
Keys has considerably more power off of both wings.She also has a much bigger and more lethal serve than Riske. All of those factors are a big advantage on the fast courts of Melbourne. She’s got the higher level of the two and that’s before you take experience in finals and big tournaments into account. Keys has five titles to Riske’s three. She is five years Riske’s junior and has made a Grand Slam final as well as featured in the top 10 in the women’s game. Keys has also never lost to Riske. Historically everything points to a Keys win here.
However, even if that weren’t the case, I would pick her to win this. Keys has been at her best in big moments this tournament. She’s hit winners galore in every match, served incredibly well and handled pressure beautifully. If she were a newcomer I’d never heard of, I’d still pick her to win this so that’s exactly what I’m going to do.
Prediction: Keys in 2
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