Svetlana Kuznetsova vs Agnieszka Radwanska
Radwanska, the defending champion here, is in her sixth consecutive WTA Finals. The Polish ace won her 18th WTA Title this year and after a 2014 lull, has steadily climbed back up the rankings over 2015 and 2016; that said, she has started off with strong performances in a number of tournaments this year, but then fizzled out in latter rounds.
To add to this, Radwanska has also seen a number of injury withdrawals – for different injuries – over the course of this season, including her wrist and knee, something she will want to be careful about going into the finals.
That said, she is by far the more consistent player this year despite Kuznetsova’s resurgence in the 2016 season, and has not had the significant period of low form that the Russian has experienced. Kuznetsova’s performances have also been patchy, while Radwanska has consistently made it through to the latter rounds of tournaments.
Despite this, Kuznetsova runs away with the lead in the pair’s head-to-head record, leading Radwanska 12-3. Their most recent match, at the Wuhan Open, saw Kuznetsova oust Radwanska in the quarter-finals – with the Pole putting up a spirited fight despite her loss.
That said, Kuznetsova’s topspin heavy serve could outfox Radwanska, whose skills lie more with placement than power. The champion here will also hold the psychological advantage of defending her title, so that will add an interesting component to the mix.
Prediction: Kuznetsova to win in three sets
