As Barbora Zahlavova Strycova knocked out Mona Barthel in the second of the Luxembourg semi-finals, my hopes of finishing 2014 with a tournament champion were crushed! Mona was my champion this week and she had a good week.  However she was comfortably beaten by Zahlavova Strycova, who produced a solid performance to win 6-3 6-2.  The second set could have been a bagel with both of Mona’s service games going to deuce.  This wasn’t a great performance, but it was encouraging to see her not fold like a cheap tent, which was a feature of many of her performances in 2013.  There’s been plenty of improvement this year, but Mona still has a long way to go to realise her full potential.  I will never give up hope…

BZS has had a superb year and is into her second WTA final of the year after Birmingham earlier this year.  She will crack the top 30 by virtue of her performances in Luxembourg.  In the final, she will take on Annika Beck.  This is Beck’s second WTA final, her first coming in Luxembourg last year.  It was a much needed run for Beck, who had lost her last seven matches before Luxembourg.  Beck hasn’t lost a set in Luxembourg, defeating Timea Bacsinszky, Roberta Vinci, Patricia Mayr-Achleitner and Denisa Allertova.

In their only previous match in 2012, Beck defeated Zahlavova Strycova, 5-7 7-6(2) 6-2.  Of course that match took place in Luxembourg! Both players have improved since 2012, but BZS markedly this year.  I would back BZS to win this final although she looked to be struggling with an ankle injury in her semi-final match.  If she can’t do it in two, then I would expect Beck to triumph in a three setter.

Prediction: Zahlavova Strycova d. Beck in 2 sets

The photo used in this post was taken by Jimmie 48 Tennis Photography.  Jimmie48 has done a grand job over at the Women’s Tennis Blog this year.  His latest gallery from Luxembourg can be viewed HERE.