The final at the Top Seed Open will feature two unseeded players as 63rd ranked Jil Teichmann faces 49th ranked Jennifer Brady for the title. Neither player has lost a set in reaching the championship match with Teichmann looking for her third career title while Brady is seeking her first.
Path to the final for both players
It's been an outstanding week for both players as Teichmann first dumped out qualifier Anna Kalinskaya 6-2, 7-5 in the first round. In round two, she thoroughly outclassed fifth seed Yulia Putintseva 6-2, 6-2. In the quarterfinals the Swiss lefty handled CiCi Bellis 6-2, 6-4 to reach her third career top-level semifinal. In the last four, Teichmann blew away wild card Shelby Rogers 6-3, 6-2 one day after Rogers had upset top seed Serena Williams.
Brady has largely flown under the radar in Lexington, but she's played quality tennis in her four victories thus far. She breezed past Heather Watson 6-2, 6-1 in the first round. In the second round, the American pulled off a minor upset of sixth Magda Linette 6-2, 6-3. Brady destroyed rising young Czech Marie Bouzkova 6-1, 6-2 in the quarterfinals. She cruised past Cori Gauff 6-2, 6-4 in the semifinals to reach her first career final.
Who will win?
Both players will come into the match with a ton of confidence and will look to shake off early nerves, especially Brady, who is in her first final. The American will, like Rogers, try to dictate against Teichmann, using her power on serve to win free points and to try and dictate off of the ground.
Both women have been incredibly efficient in winning break points with Teichmann taking 67% of her chances (22 of 33) while Brady converted on 61% of her opportunities (19 of 31). Brady has been remarkably consistent on second serve points, winning 58% (44 of 76) while the Swiss has had to play more points (56 of 106) for a 53% conversion rate.
Teichmann has the edge in experience, having won both of her career finals in Palermo and Prague and she also moves incredibly well. Brady's best surface is hard courts and a good start would do her well. Signs point to a competitive final and a win for either player would not be shocking and while Brady has beaten better players en route to the final, it's felt like Teichmann's tournament to lose since Serena lost to Rogers.
Prediction: Teichmann in straight sets