In a rare all-teenaged final, 17-year-antique Olga Danilovic takes on 17-yr-old Anastasia Potapova inside the inaugural Moscow Open very last. The scale of the two teenagers’ achievement in attaining the final need to now not be underestimated, considering how aggressive the draw inside the Russian capital became. Whilst the greater illustrious names, including latest Wimbledon semifinalist Julia Goerges, have fallen, Danilovic and Potapova have stood tall. But which ones will claim the title?
History
This could be the primary meeting between Danilovic and Potapova. In terms of revel in, there may be little to split them, but nor indeed does either have an awful lot to name upon. Danilovic has a career report of 54-sixteen, while Potapova’s reads 57-29, but the bulk of these wins have are available in movement underneath the main Tour. Neither female has made a WTA singles very last earlier than, nor competed in a Grand Slam, even though Danilovic did defeat then-world #15 Anastasija Sevastova inside the Fed Cup in February.
Path to the final
Danilovic started her marketing campaign in the qualifying, where she defeated Vivian Heisen before losing to Paula Badosa Gibert, achieving the principle draw as a fortunate loser. There she bested Anna Karolina Schmiedlova 6-2 6-four in first round action, earlier than beating veteran Kaia Kanepi 7-6 7-6. The Serb next beat top seed and global #10 Julia Goerges 6-three 6-three. She then ousted 5th seed Aliaksandra Sasnovich, who conquered Petra Kvitova at Wimbledon, 6-2 5-7 7-five to attain the final.
Potapova, a wildcard, raced via her first spherical fit against Viktoriya Tomova, beating the Bulgarian 6-1 6-1. She then accounted for Kristyna Pliskova, sister of former global #1 Karolina, 6-four 6-four to attain the quarterfinals. There she confronted her compatriot Valentyna Ivakhnenko and recovered impressively from a slow begin to win 1-6 6-three 6-2. She then made the final when Tamara Zidansek changed into forced to retire with the score 3-6 6-four 5-2 in Potapova’s favour.
How do they suit up?
The left-handed Danilovic has a variety of upside already obvious in her recreation, together with her forehand her satisfactory shot. She extensively utilized the one- punch of a serve out huge and a forehand into the open court properly in opposition to Sasnovich and it would be no wonder to peer her return to that approach in opposition to Potapova. But her accuracy, or lack thereof, while stepping to the line is a problem. Against Goerges she made just 49% of her first serves and he or she hit nine double faults against Sasnovich.
Potapova favours her backhand wing, and she used the shot to exquisite impact towards Zidansek for a good deal in their semifinal conflict. More than once she ran round her forehand to hit inside-out backhands which became harking back to Australian Open champion Caroline Wozniacki’s use of that shot. Her forehand, however, is really missing in penetration and prefer Danilovic she has struggled on serve and has already been damaged 12 instances this tournament.
Prediction
Whilst both have inspired in attaining their first very last at the sort of younger age, it is Danilovic who has reached the identify-healthy in more convincing style despite arguably having the harder draw. This may want to nicely change into a pleasant competition at the pinnacle of the game if their play this week has been some thing to go by using. But right now, specially on the clay, Danilovic appears the extra entire and confident player. Expect her to get the win in directly units.
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