The Ukrainian tennis player made her way to the qualification final with some difficulty. In the first round, she faced Colombian Emiliana Arango and played a challenging three-set match (6:3, 5:7, 6:3). However, in the second round, Snihur got lucky as her opponent, Czech Barbora Palicova, withdrew early in the second set with the score at 6:3 in favor of the Ukrainian.
Snihur ended the previous season with a few strong performances at the ITF Futures, but victories over higher-ranked opponents have proven to be difficult for her so far. The scenario from last year comes to mind when she lost in Canberra but still managed to qualify for the Australian Open. It’s possible that history may repeat itself this year, but for that to happen, Snihur will need to improve her serve, which remains her weak point.
Swiss tennis player Rebeca Masarova enters the qualification final in solid form. In her opening match, she defeated Irene Burillo Escorriuela (6:7, 6:3, 6:1), turning the match around after losing the first set. In the next round, Masarova overcame Anna Karolina Schmiedlova (6:4, 7:5), not allowing the Slovakian to win a single game on her serve.
However, Masarova’s game is not without flaws. In her match against Burillo, the Swiss player committed 41 unforced errors, which could be problematic against more resilient opponents. Nevertheless, her aggressive style and powerful serve make Masarova a dangerous player on fast surfaces, where she can pose significant challenges to her opponents.
Masarova seems more confident with her serve, but Snihur has already shown that she is capable of fighting through tough matches. Furthermore, the Ukrainian has experience successfully qualifying for the Australian Open last year. Despite the clear advantage Masarova has on serve, Snihur is capable of creating problems for her with her tenacity and ability to win rallies.
Taking into account the intensity of both players’ previous matches, it’s safe to predict that Snihur will keep the fight alive, even if she loses. Therefore, the best bet would be a +3 handicap on Snihur — even in defeat, she is likely to keep the score close and competitive.
Although Masarova has shown strong aggression and a powerful serve, making her a dangerous opponent, especially on fast surfaces, Snigur is a slight favorite. She has a higher ranking and a successful track record at major tournaments, including qualifying for the Australian Open last year.
Our prediction: Daria Snigur will win. Probability of victory: 1.55
