After what has been a truly thrilling week of tennis so far at the China Open in Beijing, just four women are left in contention for the title. But who will book their place in Sunday\u2019s final?<\/p>\n
Head-to-head: <\/strong>Barty 4-0 Bertens<\/p>\n Ashleigh Barty has the ability, unusual for a world #1, to pass almost under the radar as she progresses through a tournament. It is perhaps a reflection of the Australian\u2019s somewhat contained personality and subtle game. But make no mistake, as befits the player at the top of the ranking\u2019s pile, she is a superb talent and a title-threat wherever and whenever she plays. She has proved as much this week with a series of impressive victories.<\/p>\n After a first-round bye, she opened her China Open campaign with a dominant 6-4 6-2 win over Kazakhstan\u2019s Yulia Putintseva. She was not quite at her best in the third round, but did enough to best home Zheng Saisai in three, 6-3 6-7 6-2. And then in her best performance of the week, she overturned a 1-4 head-to-head deficit against Petra Kvitova in the quarterfinals to beat the Czech 4-6 6-4 6-3. But she will need to maintain that level against the in-form Kiki Bertens.<\/p>\n After the crushing disappointment of her second-round retirement at the French Open<\/a>, Bertens had endured a period of indifferent form. But she has been electric so far this week, battling past Donna Vekic from a set down in the first round before beating young gun Dayan Yastremska 7-6 6-3. The Dutchwoman then got the better of Polona Hercog in a three-set thriller, before ousting third seed Elina Svitolina in straight-sets, 7-6 6-2.<\/p>\n However, she has consistently struggled to contend with the guile and court-craft of Barty, losing all four of their previous encounters, although she has taken the Australian the distance in three of those matches. Nonetheless, it is unsurprising that Bertens, a player who thrives on rhythm, should find Barty a tricky foe. The world #1 possesses unrivalled variety, with her wicked slice backhand the pick of her arsenal. Expect her to confound Bertens once again in Beijing.<\/p>\n Prediction: Barty in 3
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