It’s championship Sunday at the WTA 250 level TEB BNP Paribas Tennis Championship Istanbul. A battle between a pair of powerful compatriots awaits at the Istanbul Tennis Centre as the third seeded Veronika Kudermetova seeks a second WTA title against qualifier Anastasia Potapova who will be seeking a maiden tour level title. Kudermetova will head into this clash as the favourite, but Potapova has defied the odds over and over again this week, can Potapova defy the odds one last time to win her first WTA title or will Kudermetova be too strong?
WTA Istanbul Final Prediction
(3) Veronika Kudermetova vs. (Q) Anastasia Potapova
H2H: Kudermetova 1-0.
Veronika Kudermetova hasn’t dropped a set on route to a fifth WTA tour level final. The 24-year-old secured her spot in the Istanbul final with a clinical 6-3 6-3 victory over the second seed and defending champion Sorana Cirstea. Kudermetova started the week with a 6-0 6-2 win over Marina Melnikova, received a walkover from Ana Bogdan in the second round and defeated Anna Bondar 7-6 7-6 in the quarterfinals, a solid week overall.
Anastasia Potapova’s run to a third WTA tour level final has come out of nowhere. Few could have predicted the 21-year-old would go all the way to the final via the qualifying draw in Istanbul. Potapova cruised through the first three rounds of the main draw with wins over Nikola Bartunkova 6-1 6-4, Petra Martic 6-2 6-3 and Sara Sorribes Tormo 6-2 6-2. Potapova secured her spot in Sunday’s final with a 2-6 6-2 6-2 win over Yulia Putintseva, a third consecutive upset victory.
Kudermetova prevailed 6-2 4-6 6-0 in Melbourne earlier this year in her only previous meeting with Potapova.
I’m going to side with Kudermetova. Potapova has had an incredible week, but once again I feel she is due for a loss and is probably starting to run out of gas after a long week. Potapova’s usual form suggests her run this week has been a bit of fluke. On the other hand, Kudermetova seems fresh and looks to be peaking at the right time of the tournament. Kudermetova is the better player, she does most things better in a matchup where both players are trying to execute a similar game plan. Kudermetova is also relatively more experienced in these types of matches, she looks set to outclass Potapova.
Prediction: Kudermetova in 2.
Main Photo from Getty Images
