An all-Czech showdown will take place in the capital of the Czech Republic as top-seeded Karolina Pliskova is up against qualifier Lucie Hradecka. The clay in Prague is not the typical high-bouncing, slow clay tennis fans are accustomed to. It plays a little more like a hard court as the women are not using the sliding technique much, but either way, this should be an quite the showdown with two countrywomen going at it.
Top-seeded Pliskova is ranked fourteenth in the world, and at just 23 years old, should be able to crack the top ten and contend for Grand Slam titles regularly. She struggled throughout the tournament as her semifinal victory over Yanina Wickmayer was her only victory in straight sets. Pliskova’s serve is predicated on finding angles, which she does very well. Her forehand has a peculiar motion after hitting the ball not hitting through it like a topspin motion. The motion is more like a quick wrist flick upwards. This columnist thinks that her backhand is her best shot as she is able to find depth on it very well.
Lucie Hradecka has done well to get to the final in Prague, and had some luck along the way not meeting up against a single-seeded player until tomorrow’ final. The most notable player she defeated was Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the first round. Hradecka is one of the few, if not the only, player who hits with two hands on both wings. She is a more successful doubles player than she is singles. Playing doubles often means she has a beautiful touch at the net which is vital for ending points on any surface. At 74 in the world and 29 years old, much is not expected from the underdog tomorrow, but expect her to fight hard until the final point.
Tomorrow, look for Pliskova to hit to Hradecka’s backhand side often as that is her weaker wing. Pliskova’s groundstrokes are much more crisp than Hradecka’s, and she’ll force the qualifier to run all over the court. Also, Hradecka is more prone to hitting more unforced errors than her countrywomen.
Prediction: Karolina Pliskova in straight sets