WTA Championships Day 1: Serena, Azarenka and Kvitova begin their campaigns

(1)Serena Williams v (8)Angelique Kerber (Head-to-head: Serena leads 2-1)

This match-up is a study of contrasts. For Serena this has been a rollicking year which has seen her outshine simply anybody on the tour. She has soared high with 10 titles that included cradling the Suzanne Lenglen trophy after 11 years and also adding the fifth US Open trophy to her name. She is now the oldest women’s World no. 1 – the American has never looked this poised and equanimous. Perhaps it’s all because she learnt to value her life again after battling with a serious foot injury and pulmonary embolism as she says, ‘’I thought unfortunately that I just wanted to try to survive that moment and then move on. Then I ended up playing again. So I think that definitely built a lot of character in me, and I think it built even more mental toughness.’’

Today she comes up against a lefty, Angelique Kerber who was the last one to qualify for the Championships. Till the US Open the German No. 1 struggled for consistency and bigger results with just a final at Monterrey to her name. It was a late season surge at Tokyo and her run to the Linz title that sealed her place. But Kerber has a sparkling ‘W’ in one out of her three meetings with Serena. She is the only player to beat Serena in straight sets in almost 19 months.

Does it make things easy for her? Perhaps not. Even though the German has arrived in Istanbul on a high, Serena might be just too powerful and too determined for her. The German has a great defense and her down-the-line forehands have the potential to cause a lot of damage but expect Serena and her perfect serve, superior movement and tremendous mental fortitude to steer the ship and sail through.

Prediction: Serena wins in straight sets.