The ATP Tour Finals are beginning on Sunday and it is a day when the first of the WTA Finals Groups are concluded.
You can read my Tennis Picks below from the tennis to come on Sunday.
Karolina Pliskova - 2.5 games v Barbora Krejcikova: After putting in a huge effort in the second Group match, Barbora Krejcikova could be forgiven for perhaps prioritising the Doubles tournament instead of the Singles one at the WTA Finals. Two losses makes progress from this Group look incredibly difficult for Barbora Krejcikova and playing every day cannot be good for her in the conditions in Guadalajara.
It is clear that Barbora Krejcikova is very happy with the season that took her to the WTA Finals in both the Singles and Doubles tournament, but the signs that is perhaps wearing down after a long season have been underlined here. She has not played badly, but Barbora Krejcikova has not really coped with the big points as well as she would have liked in her losses to Anett Kontaveit and Garbine Muguruza.
She will also be back out in the day conditions, which are much different to those for the players competing in the early evening slot. Barbora Krejcikova may be a little more used to the changes that occur between the two different sessions, but it was a change that really bothered Karolina Pliskova and she believes it was partly the reason for her heavy defeat to Anett Kontaveit.
The win over Garbine Muguruza means Karolina Pliskova is still in control of her own destiny and a straight sets win will be enough to secure passage through to the Semi Final. However, anything less will leave the door open for the Spaniard, while Barbora Krejcikova will need to win this match big and hope that Anett Kontaveit can do her a favour.
Karolina Pliskova admitted she didn't handle the early time slot as well as she may have done, but I also think there may have been a lingering effect from the tough, three set win over Muguruza in the evening session earlier in the week. She should be much stronger by now and the head to head over Barbora Krejcikova should give Pliskova confidence.
There is no doubt that she is going to have to serve better than she did in her last match, but I expect a much better effort all around from Karolina Pliskova. The return was a real weakness against Anett Kontaveit, but Barbora Krejcikova has not really played up to the level that the Estonian has displayed and it should make it a match that Karolina Pliskova can get into.
You do have to wonder how much Barbora Krejcikova will have left to invest in this match if she loses the first set- I think she put in a lot in her last match and came up short and I think that can have an impact on her level in this final Group match.
The favourite will be under some pressure too, but Karolina Pliskova should be capable of doing enough to win the match and perhaps even secure the Semi Final spot without worrying about the other match in the Group.
Anett Kontaveit - 2.5 games v Garbine Muguruza: A Semi Final spot has been confirmed, but tennis is not really a sport in which you can take to the court and not give your full effort. It is a rare occasion in which Anett Kontaveit will know a defeat will not prevent her from playing in the next Round, but the form and momentum is behind her and I am sure she will be targeting three wins out of three before the Semi Final to come.
There is a day of rest between this match and the Semi Final match and I think that will also mean we see a serious Anett Kontaveit take to the court. She has looked really strong in the tournament already and the Estonian has spoken about her confidence.
Fearing no one is a huge advantage for a player and Anett Kontaveit has really looked after her tennis in the conditions that are unfamiliar to so many. One difference between this match and the first two played is that Kontaveit has not played in the second slot in the day and that is where Garbine Muguruza has a big advantage with this being a third straight match in this slot.
The fans have been a bit louder in the evening and Garbine Muguruza has spoken about how important they have been for her to push through tough moments. The Spaniard is likely to receive plenty of support again, but it could be a tough match for Muguruza if the earlier match has not gone in her favour and I think it is much more difficult to try and rally if losing a set means that Muguruza is going to exit the tournament.
Anett Kontaveit has been considerably stronger on serve than Garbine Muguruza in the tournament and I think that can be a key to her winning this match too. It was also the reason that Kontaveit was able to crush Garbine Muguruza three weeks ago on a hard court in Moscow and it will give her the mental edge in the match.
I have to respect the way that Muguruza has battled in the tournament so far, but she has to improve on her serve and especially if her opponent is reaching the levels she has in the Group so far. Anett Kontaveit has won around 14% more points behind serve than Garbine Muguruza, but she also backed that up with big returning against Karolina Pliskova and my feeling is that Kontaveit can make a third win in succession.
The Estonian has not really spent much time on the court and considerably less time than Garbine Muguruza so I think a fresh, still motivated Anett Kontaveit can win this match.
MY PICKS: Karolina Pliskova - 2.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Anett Kontaveit - 2.5 Games @ 1.80 Bet365 (2 Units)
Alexander Zverev - 2.5 Games @ 1.75 Bet Victor (2 Units)
WTA Finals Update: 5-3, + 2.90 Units (16 Units Staked, + 18.13% Yield)
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