WTA Paris, Pattaya City: Final Predictions

A full house of correct predictions for yesterday.  Lets take a look at tomorrow's finals...

Maria Kirilenko

Maria Kirilenko v Sabine Lisicki (Pattaya City, F)

Pattaya has avoided the surprises to present us with what should be an excellent final tomorrow.  Sabine Lisicki won her fourth match of the week to reach her first final since the back end of 2011.  Lisicki beat Nina Bratchikova, 7-5 6-3, coming through a break-happy first set before a more solid performance in the second set.  Maria Kirilenko had her best match of the week as she trounced Sorana Cirstea, 6-0 6-2.  Kirilenko has started 2013 in very consistent form and if she were to prevail in the final, this would be her first title since 2008 where she scooped three titles in Estoril, Barcelona and Seoul.  Kirilenko leads the head-to-head with Lisicki, 2-0 but the most recent of those was in 2008.  Kirilenko is the safer option, but I like Lisicki's chances in the final.  She will make errors, but can win easy points with her serve.  Lisicki is a confidence player and this week has certainly given her a much needed boost...

Prediction - Lisicki to beat Kirilenko in 3 sets

Mona Barthel v Sara Errani (Paris, F)

Sara Errani

The number one seed, Sara Errani has somewhat surprisingly made the final in Paris where she takes on the unseeded German firecracker, Mona Barthel.  Errani has had luck on her side as Kiki Bertens retired from their semi-final at 0-5 down in the first set.  This was the second match in Paris that Errani benefitted from an injured opponent and she has only completed one match (against Suarez Navarro in the quarter-finals) to actually make the final.  Barthel, meanwhile has played some excellent tennis with upset wins over Roberta Vinci and Marion Bartoli, and a crowd quietening straight sets win over home favourite, Kristina Mladenovic.  There is no doubt that Barthel has the more attacking game and if she can maintain her focus in this one, she should quite comfortably take her first ever Premier title.

Prediction - Barthel to beat Errani in two sets (one tight, one easy)