The final of the BNP Paribas Fortis Diamond Games will feature Carla Suarez Navarro and Andrea Petkovic. Suarez Navarro progressed into her first ever Premier final with a commanding 6-2 6-2 victory over Karolina Pliskova in 61 minutes. This was an excellent performance from Suarez Navarro, her best of the week so far, as she was able to take full advantage of a well-below-par showing from Pliskova. The Czech player looked tired, which comes as no surprise as she came in from Fed Cup duty in Canada. Her serving stats were poor as she got just 38% of first serves in and won only 40% of her service points. Furthermore, her footwork was sluggish and CSN did a good job of getting Pliskova on the run. Pliskova threatened a fightback in the second set, but Suarez Navarro saved a break point at 6-2 4-2 *30-40 with a miraculous get. After she won that point, it was pretty much curtains.
Unlike the first semi-final, the second semi-final really delivered. Andrea Petkovic needed two hours and 26 minutes to fend off Barbora Zahlavova Strycova in two tiebreak sets, 7-6(2) 7-6(6). Petkovic led in both sets only to be pegged back by a resilient BZS. There were some great rallies, particularly in the second set. BZS started volleying more in the second set although this wasn’t always successful. In the end, Petkovic was by far the steadier player in both tiebreaks. BZS has a set point in the second set tiebreak, but ended the match with a couple of duff points. Overall, it was a great watch and a third set would have been welcome.
Petkovic and Suarez Navarro are tied at 2-2 in their head-to-head; rather curiously, all four matches have been decided in straight sets and with a 6-4 second set. CSN won their last match at the Tournament of Champions event in Sofia, 6-0 6-4. Petkovic has been an absolute machine this week. There is no way I expected her to make the final in Antwerp after a gruelling weekend in Fed Cup action where she played two matches that went past 6-6 in the decider. She hasn’t played her best tennis this week in Antwerp and has struggled to close out sets; however, her fighting spirit has shone through and she has got the job done. CSN has been improving match-on-match, but i’m still wary of her mentality in finals. The Spaniard broke her duck last year, winning her first WTA title in Estoril. However, i’d have much more faith in Petkovic bringing home the bacon.
Prediction: Petkovic d. Suarez Navarro in 2 tight sets
Moo's Tennis Blog 
I’m going on a limb and saying CSN. She’s really impressed me this week, actually. Pliskova was awful in their match, but Navarro held her nerve despite it being her first semi at Premier level. Ultimately I think she could just make it too exhausting for Petkovic.
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Yep, I say Carla too. She’s been very cool and composed this week, sometimes under heavy pressure (being a set down in her first 2 matches, and being 0-3 down against Schiavone before winning the set 6-3). I think she’ll have too much game and variety for Petko tomorrow. I hope so anyway, because her one-handed backhand, in particular, is a joy to watch when it’s firing.
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Carla’s record of 5 wins over top 10 players (2014/15 seasons) against Petko’s 0 wins is interesting…I also think the strength of her ball striking and return skills will be to much for Petko. Petko played well in the very tight match against Strycova, a player that Carla has beaten 5 times very easily. I recall petko’s 3 set loss to Brengle last month where she was beaten 3-6 in the last set when faced with an opponent who can also mix it up and maybe to a lessor degree than what Carla can. Carla in 2
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Who would expect these two to play the final? This is why women tennis is more interesting. I take CSN to win this title. Final pressure and fatigue will get to Petko. A good run will end today.
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I have never won on Suarez Navarro in any manner. When I back her to win, she loses and vice versa. I will be backing her with a few pennies here to ensure a lively petko boogie at the end.
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Jite lolllll! You will have the first win today. Good luck.
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Jite – you are absolutely right. I take my words back because Suarez couldn’t play in the final. You black magic has mobbed her from the court (kidding 🙂 )
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How did CSN get a neck injury? Some move she made on court ?
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I woke up with a stiff neck yesterday so I can understand how these things happen!
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Perhaps stress? She’s a nervous character and this was the biggest match of her career, after that QF at the Aus a few years ago.
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