Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the WTA Finals match.
This match is crucial for both players as it determines who will advance to the final of the Year-End Championship, a prestigious achievement to cap off the year. Qinwen Zheng is making a strong push for the title, underscoring her brilliant form in 2024 and aiming to maximise her potential in major tournaments. Barbora Krejcikova, an unexpected semifinalist after an assertive group stage performance, is also eager to showcase her strengths on the indoor court, where she traditionally excels.
Qinwen Zheng
Zheng has had an outstanding season with 51 victories and several titles, including the Olympics and Asian Games. Her aggressive style suits indoor courts well, with her powerful serve and solid groundstrokes allowing her to maintain the initiative. She leads the WTA in aces (406) and points won on first serve (75.9%). Throughout this tournament, she has shown consistently high efficiency with a serve percentage of 56% and conversion rate over 77%, particularly in her wins against Elena Rybakina and Jasmine Paolini.
Barbora Krejcikova
Krejcikova also had her bright moments in 2024, including a Wimbledon victory, but her season has been marred by injuries. She feels confident on indoor courts, as evidenced by her 11-1 record on this surface since 2022. At this tournament, she delivered strong performances against Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff, demonstrating nerves of steel and a superb ratio of winners to unforced errors (22-32 and 22-29, respectively). Her experience and versatile play, featuring powerful groundstrokes and adept use of drop shots, provide a solid foundation for the semifinal.
Qinwen Zheng vs Barbora Krejcikova Prediction
Both players tend to play aggressively, relying on their serve and attack. Zheng appears to be the nominal favourite, but Krejcikova's experience and indoor court statistics could be decisive. Given the serving power of both, a match with a high number of games is expected, and it is unlikely to end quickly. Therefore, a bet on a total over 20.5 is worth considering.
