The final is set in Cleveland and it looks like we’re in for a cracker. Both Aliaksandra Sasnovich and Ludmilla Samsonova have played great tennis this week. They are deserving of their spots in the final and a shot at the title. However, only one can emerge victorious. Sasnovich has a higher ranking and more experience on the tour. Samsonova brings superb form and a recent title run with her into this match. Both will be keen to pick up some serious momentum ahead of the US Open next week. However, which counts for more, form or experience? Well, we try and answer exactly that in our WTA Cleveland final prediction so let’s get to it.
WTA Cleveland Final Prediction
Ludmilla Samsonova vs Aliaksandra Sasnovich
Head-to-head: First meeting
This looks like it will be decided by who finds their mark more often as both players are aggressive ball strikers. Samsonova has more power and a bigger serve, so she holds the slight advantage. The Russian has also won nine matches in a row which will certainly fill her with confidence. Nevertheless, Sasnovich is in the middle of her best year of tennis for quite some time and will believe she can win this every bit as much as Samsonova will.
The Belarusian finished 2021 ranked outside the top 100 for the first time since 2017. However, a stellar year of play now sees her at #36 in the world, a higher ranking than Samsonova’s. Sasnovich at her best is capable of giving anyone on the WTA Tour trouble and she’s been near that level all week in Cleveland. The question is, can she live with the immense power of Samsonova for long enough to draw errors in two sets of tennis?
The Russian has blitzed all comers over the last two weeks. She dropped just two sets in Washington on her way to the title there and is yet to drop a set this week. Her las victory was a real statement of intent as she demolished Bernarda Pera for the loss of just three games. The American had won 19 of her last 20 matches which resulted in two trophies in three weeks. It’s safe to say that Samsonova is in a rich vein of form then and enters this match the deserving favourite.
The Prediction
Sasnovich is a very good player in very good form and will definitely put up a fight. However, Samsonova has shown flashes of brilliance, especially on hard courts. I think the Russian still has a few rungs to climb on the WTA Tour and could well be an elite player on the tour by the end of the year. She also looks poised to make some serious noise at the US Open this year if her current level continues. Samsonova has too much power, form and confidence on her side to fall short now. Expect her to make it two titles in two weeks when all is said and done in Cleveland.
Prediction: Samsonova in 2
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