Adelaide International 2, 2023: Meet the women's singles finalists
What's the story
Fifth seed Daria Kasatkina will cross swords with eighth seed Belinda Bencic in the final of the women's singles match at Adelaide International 2 on Saturday. Both Kasatkina and Bencic were handed walk-overs by Paula Badosa and Veronika Kudermetova, respectively, in the semi-finals on Friday (January 13). Notably, Kasatkina hasn't dropped a set in the WTA 500 tournament. Here is the preview.
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Badosa, Kudermetova suffer injuries
As per WTA, Spanish ace Badosa withdrew from her match against Kasatkina due to a right thigh injury. Meanwhile, sixth-seeded Kudermetova of Russia pulled out ahead of her last-four clash with Bencic owing to a left hip injury.
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Kasatkina's dominating run in the tournament
Kasatkina stormed past Barbora Krejcikova 6-2, 7-5 in the round of 16. She then overpowered two-time Grand Slam winner Petra Kvitova 6-3, 7-6(3), before receiving a walkover from ninth-seed Badosa.
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Kasatkina has a lead over Badosa
Kasatkina enjoys a 3-1 win-loss record against Badosa in WTA match-ups. The latter won their maiden meet in 2022 Sydney, with Kasatkina claiming emphatic straight-set wins in their next two matches in Rome and San Jose.
Kasatkina
Kasatkina is a six-time WTA titlist
Kasatkina has won six titles in her women's singles career so far (2022 - San Jose, Granby; 2021 - Phillip Island Trophy, St. Petersburg; 2018 - Moscow; 2017 - Charleston). Meanwhile, she has been a runner-up on five occasions (2021 - Birmingham, San Jose; 2018 - Dubai, Indian Wells; 2017 - Moscow).
Journey
Bencic's run in the Adelaide International 2
Bencic trounced Garbine Muguruza, two-time Grand Slam winner and former world number one, 6-3, 6-4 in R32. She beat Anna Kalinskaya of Russia 6-3, 6-3 in R16. In the quarter-finals, Swiss Bencic overcame fourth-seeded Caroline Garcia of France 6-2, 3-6, 6-4. She advanced to the final via a walkover from Kudermetova.
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How has Bencic fared against Kudermetova?
Bencic boasts a 5-4 W/L record against Kudermetova in WTA head-to-head series. Their maiden meet dates back to 2018 's-Hertogenbosch, with the latter prevailing in three sets. Notably, Bencic had won their last meet in the 2022 Berlin quarter-finals.
Bencic
Bencic seeks her seventh WTA honor
Bencic is close to lifting her seventh singles title. The 25-year-old has won six titles in her women's singles career (2022 - Charleston; 2021 - Olympics; 2019 - Dubai, Moscow; 2015 - Eastbourne, Toronto). Bencic is a nine-time runner-up (2022 Berlin; 2021 -Adelaide, Berlin; 2019 - Mallorca; 2018 - Luxembourg; 2016 - St. Petersburg; 2015 -Hertogenbosch, Tokyo [Pan Pacific]; 2014 - Tianjin).
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Kasatkina's H2H record against Bencic
Kasatkina has a slender lead over Bencic in WTA head-to-head series. She has a 3-2 win-loss record. The duo last met in R64 of the 2021 French Open, with the former winning 6-2, 6-2.