Karolina Pliskova vs Svetlana Kuznetsova
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Kuznetsova, an old hand on the WTA circuit, has been powering past some of today’s most powerful opponents to become one of them. Pliskova, meanwhile, made the finals of the US Open whilst achieving a special feat in women’s tennis – defeating two former No. 1 players – Venus and Serena Williams – en route to making the finals at the US Open, her first Grand Slam final.
2016 has perhaps been Pliskova’s best year yet in terms of ranking; hitting No. 6 in the singles, she is at No. 12 in the women’s doubles; she lost out crucially, however, in the finals of the US Open despite leading a set and being up a break in the second. She has choked at crucial times, perhaps also characteristic of the powerful Kuznetsova, who has also been flaky in her form.
Each player is fresh off big wins – Kuznetsova with the title at the Kremlin Cup, Pliskova with her stellar US Open performance.
Both players have an aggressive style of play, which will be interesting to watch.
Interestingly, it is the less-experienced Pliskova who beat Kuznetsova in the pair’s only meeting, which was at the quarter-finals of the Cincinnati Masters or the Western and Southern Open this year.
Prediction: Kuznetsova to win in three sets
