Aryna Sabalenka vs Veronika Kudermetova Prediction & Betting Tips - Abu Dhabi Open

Prediction published on 12/01/2021, 07:03  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 12/01/2021 at 08:03 in Tennis Predictions

Aryna Sabalenka bids to win her third tournament in a row. She has to defeat unseeded Veronika Kudermetova to achieve that feat in this first tennis final of the year. Sabalenka is the fourth seed for this tournament and ranked 10th in the world. Only one set has been lost by her on the way to this final. That took place in her quarter final against sixth seeded Elena Rybakina. In the last four, Sabalenka only dropped five games when beating ninth seeded Maria Sakkari. With the Australian Open on the horizon, Sabalenka will look to add another trophy to her collection after ending last year with wins in Ostrava and Linz.

Her opponent is ranked 46th in the world with a highest ever position of 38th. She's had to win five matches to make her way to this final and that includes two seeded players. The first round saw her beat Anna Kontaveit (10th seed) in straight sets and the last eight saw her cause a larger shock. The 23-year-old defeated the second seeded Elena Svitilova and then got past world number 99 Maria Kostyuk in the semi-final in two close sets. Her best form has often been shown in doubles with a semi-final appearance at the US Open last year. There has been success in the singles ranks though with a semi-final in Hobart at the start of 2020 and two quarter finals in Linz and Ostrava (both tournaments won by her opponent).  This is a tough task against an in-form player who knows how to win tournaments. Go for Sabalenka to win this final.