Moscow Predictions – 16 / 23
WTA Moscow Final Prediction for Saturday
Day 6 – 1/1
Kuznetsova d. Gavrilova in 3 sets – So many factors to this one… both will be tired, especially Gavrilova who has played doubles this week as well and was involved in the doubles final with Kasatkina on Friday. Kuznetsova’s done great this week and the final place in Singapore is there for the taking. I’d expect some mega nerves though… still going for Sveta though.
WTA Moscow SF Predictions for Friday
Day 5 – 1/2
Thoughts about the matches in my Set Points round-up article HERE
Svitolina d. Kuznetsova in 3 sets
Gavrilova d. Goerges in 3 sets – No strong opinion on this match, clueless!
WTA Moscow SF Polls for Friday
WTA Moscow QF Predictions for Thursday
Day 4 – 2/4
Svitolina d. Konjuh in 2 sets – Konjuh’s been picking up some superb wins of late against the more defensively minded players but my hunch is that Svitolina will win this one. My hunch means nothing haha!
Kuznetsova d. Babos in 3 sets – Another first time meeting and think this one will go down to the wire. Both can get nervy in close moments and Kuznetsova has a lot on the line this week. Sveta just…
Pavlyuchenkova d. Gavrilova in 3 sets – Moscow is a horrible court but I thought Pavs played a decent match against Jankovic. Gavrilova could make life awkward but I think Pavs can hit through.
Kasatkina d. Goerges in 2 sets – Kasatkina won comfortably in Wuhan and i’d expect more of the same to be honest…
WTA Moscow R2 Predictions for Wednesday
Day 3 – 5/6
Suárez Navarro d. Gavrilova in 2 sets – I was tempted to go for Gavrilova in this match but she’ll have to play a great match to topple the Spaniard. She’s got the intensity but consistency-wise, while more convincing of late, still i’m not sure it will enough. The stakes are high for Suárez Navarro who must win to keep her hopes for Singapore alive. Carla and pressure haven’t normally gone well together!
Kuznetsova d. Cornet in 3 sets – I have these vague recollections of their match in Moscow from 2011 where I think Cornet barely hit a winner. Kuznetsova has been much more reliable in her first matches of a tournament but Cornet’s been better of late.
Pavlyuchenkova d. Jankovic in 3 sets – Hmmm an interesting one! If it goes three, I think Pavs will edge it. Pavs has won four of their six matches on tour including a 7-6(3) third set win in Madrid two years ago in their last match.
Kasatkina d. Makarova in 3 sets – First time match-up! Originally went for Makarova in my draw challenge but I was impressed with Kasatkina in the first round and on this strange court, I think Kasatkina might be the smarter.
Vesnina d. Goerges in 2 sets – Vesnina’s lost her last three matches so… Vesnina in straights haha! Clueless with this one to be honest.
Svitolina d. Putintseva in 2 sets – These two have had some interesting matches… I think they had to separated by the umpire in their last match! Svitolina’s won their last three including an absolute dramafest at the French Open last year, winning 9-7 in the third. I’ve been impressed with Svitolina through Asia and I think if she doesn’t let Poots’s antics get to her then she’ll take this in straights.
Babos d. Mladenovic in 2 sets – Ahhh a rematch of old doubles partners… Mladenovic won comfortably at the French Open but have to think fatigue will catch up with the Frenchwoman in this one after a gruelling run in Hong Kong where she was clearly struggling physically in the final.
Konjuh d. Blinkova in 3 sets – Battle of the 18 year olds! Blinkova had an incredible win on Tuesday, saving 5 MPs to beat Sevastova. I don’t know much about Blinkova so tough to say with this one but she must riding a real high right now. Konjuh’s got big strokes but with that, comes inconsistency.
WTA Moscow R1 Predictions for Tuesday
Day 2 – 6/8
Pavlyuchenkova d. Siniakova in 2 sets – A tough early match-up for Pavs. She’s played Siniakova in the last two weeks of the year for the last two years so it’ll be interesting to see any improvement from the Czech player in this one. Siniakova’s come through three rounds of qualifying but I like Pavs indoors.
Mladenovic d. Kalinskaya in 2 sets – Hmmm not sure about this one as Mladenovic was injured in Hong Kong and will be jetlagged, yet if it was a big issue I think she will have pulled out by now. Kalinskaya is playing her first ever WTA main draw match but has had lots of wins on the ITF circuit this year at $10k and $25k events.
Jankovic d. Ostapenko in 2 sets – Nice to see Jankovic having a decent end to the year. Ostapenko has lost her last five matches on tour…
Makarova d. Gibbs in 2 sets – A nice end to the season for Gibbs to win three matches and qualify for the main draw. If she can mix up the pace then she’ll have a chance otherwise i’d expect Makarova to be too strong.
Cornet d. Rogers in 2 sets – Cornet ending the year well… she defeated Rogers during the Asian Swing in Beijing.
Sevastova d. Blinkova in 3 sets – Sevastova has lost four of her five matches since a quarter-final run at the US Open. Blinkova is the #246 in the world but just 18 years old and has qualified for what will be only her second WTA main draw match.
Goerges d. Kovinic in 2 sets – A tough turnaround for Kovinic who has come from Tianjin. Goerges is playing Moscow for the first time in her career.
Strycova d. Konjuh in 3 sets – This should be a good match yet it is stuck out on court 3! I think Strycova will scrap her way through.
Putintseva d. Tsurenko in 3 sets – Poots won their last match, 6-1 6-0 last year in New Haven! No strong opinion on this one, Tsurenko has won a lot of matches lately with some retirements thrown in as well.
WTA Moscow R1 Predictions for Monday
Day 1 – 1/2
Begu d. Babos in 3 sets – Babos is the seed but just two places separate the pair in the rankings. Begu has won their two previous matches and it’s hard to really find much to separate the pair.
Kasatkina d. Bencic in 3 sets – Oh noooo! This match-up is the one that stood out as they are good friends. Bencic won their only previous match in the semi-finals of St. Petersburg earlier this year. I remember that match because I thought Kasatkina was the much better player but Bencic’s experience prevailed. The pair have now swapped over in the rankings. I keep going for Bencic but in this one i’d give Kasatkina, now with more experience, the edge.
Moscow – Who will win Poll
Full draw predictions
*Will change once qualifiers are placed*
R1
Kuznetsova
Cornet
Mladenovic
Begu
Svitolina
Putintseva
Sevastova
Strycova
Kasatkina
Makarova
Goerges
Vesnina
Pavlyuchenkova
Jankovic
Safarova
Suárez Navarro
R2
Kuznetsova
Begu
Svitolina
Strycova
Makarova
Vesnina
Pavlyuchenkova
Safarova
QF
Kuznetsova
Svitolina
Makarova
Pavlyuchenkova
SF
Svitolina
Pavlyuchenkova
F
Pavlyuchenkova
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