Simona Halep vs Anett Kontaveit Prediction & Betting Tips - Cluj Napoca 2, Romania, Qualifying

Prediction published on 30/10/2021, 15:29  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 30/10/2021 at 17:06 in Tennis Predictions

It's Halloween so perfect timing for the final of the Translyvania Open. Here's the first shock as we have a women's final featuring the top two seeds. Second seeded Anett Kontaveit bids to win another title but has to beat number one seed Simona Halep. Kontaveit has been on fire in recent months and a win here will be her fourth since August. Kontaveit's excellent run began whe winning in Cleveland and followed that up by winning the Ostrava Open in September and last week the Kremlin Cup. All of this has done her world ranking no harm at all. The Estonian began the week at 14th but is up to 11th in the live rankings. A win over Halep would take her up to eighth, not bad for someone who was ranked 31st in May of this year. Winning this title will put her in line for a place in the WTA Tour finals. This week has seen her beat Alexandra Krunic, Alison Van Uytvanck, eighth seeded Anhelina Kalinina and Rebecca Peterson, all without losing a set. That's eight times in her last nine matches, Kontaveit has won without dropping a set and only 15 games have been lost in her last three in this tournament.

Simona Halep is the top seed and the former world number one is yet to win a tournament this year. 2021 has been an up and down one for her, with several injury problems This week saw her ranked 18th but had began this year in second. Winning this final will see her end the week at 19th but if losing, will drop out the top 20. Only 17 tournaments have been played by Halep this year, most other players are well into the 20s. Halep is up to 34th in the live WTA Race, so no tour finals for her this year. This is her first final since winning the Rome Masters last year. Wins this week have come against Elena-Gabriela Ruse, Varvara Gracheva, Jaqueline Cristian and sixth seeded Marta Kostyuk with no sets dropped.  Halep has had three easy wins over her opponent, the most recent in the 2020 Australian Open, with the other two being played four years ago when Kontaveit was ranked a lot lower. This is a lot tougher though, back the in-form Kontaveit to win another title.