WTA Finals Shenzhen Red Group Preview: Osaka vs. Kvitova

She’s had to wait nearly an entire season, but Petra Kvitova will finally get a chance to avenge her gut-wrenching, three-set loss to Naomi Osaka at this year’s Australian Open final. Playing in her seventh season-ending championship, the 2011 winner will need to draw from her substantial experience, while also bringing something new to the table, if she hopes to slow down the sizzling megastar. Osaka hasn’t lost a match since the US Open, and enters the tournament riding a 10-match, two tournament win streak after snatching titles in Osaka and Beijing.

Kvitova is the most seasoned and decorated player in the field, but has been struggling recently, relative to her lofty standards. The 27-time tour titlist hoisted the trophy in Stuttgart this April, but has since failed to reach the final round of her last seven events.

Despite the tough match-up against the world’s most in-form player, the Czech’s serve is one of, if not the, most formidable weapon in the tournament. Kvitova boasts an 80 percent service-hold rate this season, the highest number among the eight competitors, and she will need every free point she can get against the laser-focused Osaka. Kvitova will use her devastating lefty-slider to open up the court and keep Osaka on the move. If that doesn’t work, perhaps the seven-time Karen Krantzcke Sportsmanship Award winner can kill her opponent with kindness.

When Osaka is zoned in, like she is right now, her groundstrokes are too punishing for nearly anyone to handle. A few months ago this match might have been a toss-up, but at the moment Osaka looks like the player to beat in this contest, and in Shenzhen altogether. Winner: Osaka

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