| Game |
Saisai Zheng vs. Aryna Sabalenka
|
|---|---|
| Date & Time | Sunday August 4, 2019, 7:00 PM (EDT) |
| Location |
San Jose State University
San Jose, California
|
| The Line |
The Line: -- Over/Under:
|
| TV Channel |
Tennis
|
Saisai Zheng and Aryna Sabalenka meet in the final of the 2019 tennis Silicon Valley Classic.
Saisai Zheng is coming off a straight sets win over Maria Sakkari that took 21 games to decide. In the victory, Zheng won 62 percent of her first serve points and 45 percent of her second serve points. Zheng won 57 percent of her total service points and converted on five of her six break points. Zheng got 69 percent of her first serves in play and saved three of her six break points. It was easily the best serving performance we’ve seen from Zheng this tournament, and now six of her last eight wins overall have been decided in straight sets. Zheng looks to win the first title of her career, and this is her first final appearance since last years Jiangxi Open. Zheng has won six of her last nine matches on hard court.
Aryna Sabalenka is coming off a straight sets win over Donna Vekic that took 19 games to decide. In the victory, Sabalenka won 80 percent of her first serve points and 17 percent of her second serve points. Sabalenka won 57 percent of her total service points and converted on six of her 13 break points. Sabalenka got 63 percent of her first serves in play, saved three of her seven break points and hit five aces. Sabalenka has won six of her seven sets this tournament, but her second serve could improve drastically. Sabalenka looks to win here second title of the year and the fourth title of her career. Sabalenka has won her last three final appearances overall and is 3-1 in finals on hard court. Sabalenka has won five of her last seven matches on hard court.
These two have played once, which was a 2017 ITF match, a meeting Zheng won in straight sets and 21 games.
Zheng should be highly motivated to get her first career title out of the way, but her shaky serve will likely be her downfall. It’s only a matter of time before constant break points to her opponent will catch up to her. Sabalenka has dominated her first serve for the most part this tournament and is a nightmare matchup when she’s controlling the pace and hitting her spots.
I like Sabalenka to win her fourth career title.
