WTA Kremlin​ Cup Final Odds & Pick: Pavlyuchenkova vs Bencic

• The WTA Kremlin Cup finals will be played Sunday morning at 8:00 am EST
• Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Belinda Bencic will be competing
• With her semifinal win, Belinda Bencic secured the last spot in the WTA Finals later this year

World No. 10 Belinda Bencic and World No. 40 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova will face off for fifth time in the Kremlin Cup final Sunday morning. Bencic is the favorite going into the match, and was a top favorite coming into the tournament. Her Kremlin Cup odds were +800, only behind Elina Svitolina.

WTA Kremlin Cup Final Odds

*Odds taken 10/19/19

Bencic’s Road to the Finals

By making it to the finals, Belinda Bencic also secured her spot in the elite eight later this year. Bencic beat Kristina Mladenovic in the semifinals, 6-3, 6-4, in an hour and 35 minutes.

??? ????? ?? ???!

See you at the @SHISEIDO_corp @WTAFinals,@ashbarty @Naomi_Osaka_ @KaPliskova @Simona_Halep @Petra_Kvitova @Bandreescu_ @ElinaSvitolina @BelindaBencic pic.twitter.com/DScKvDCiyO

— wta (@WTA) October 19, 2019

Bencic started out strong in the opening set, winning the first three games to go up 3-0. That didn’t last long, as Mladenovic found her game, and won the next three games herself to even it out 3-3. After having a break point in Bencic’s service game, Mladenovic wasn’t able to capitalize, and Bencic won the next three to take the set.

In the second set, Bencic was again able to take a early lead, 2-1. But just like the first set, Mladenovic fought back, breaking Bencic almost immediately. Mladenovic actually took the lead at 3-2 and then 4-3, but was unable to take it.

?? A win in straight set! @BelindaBencic defeats Mladenovic, 6-3, 6-4, and advances to the finals of the #KremlinCup pic.twitter.com/RPjGV7WSkj

— wta (@WTA) October 19, 2019

Bencic won the last 12 of 13 points and went on to win to face Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the finals.

“This gives me a great feeling and hopefully I can take that into tomorrow and play even better.” – Belinda Bencic

Pavlyuchenkova’s Road to the Finals

28-year old Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova booked her spot in the Kremlin Cup final for a third time after she was able to defeat Karolina Muchova in three sets, 6-4, 6-7, 6-1 in two hours and 34 minutes.

? Amazing!@NastiaPav is our #ShotOfTheDay!#KremlinCup pic.twitter.com/gn31AHaPWd

— wta (@WTA) October 19, 2019

Playing in front of a home crown, Pavlyuchenkova went all the way despite breaking serve to lead 6-4, 5-4. The Russian took an early lead, 2-0, in the second set, and then lost the next four games to be down 4-2.

Opponent Karolina Muchova was able to stay alive by saving a match point at 6-5, right before winning three straight points, making for a final set. Pavlyuchenkova landed 71% of her first serves, and never lost a point behind them. She was able to only drop one point in four service games.

? @NastiaPav controlling the court!#KremlinCup pic.twitter.com/R3SkPaF34f

— wta (@WTA) October 19, 2019

The Russian was able to convert six of 19 break points, and save 10 of the 13 she faced to go onto the finals.

Head-to-Head

This is not the first time these two players have faced each other. Bencic leads their matchup s 3-1, including a win at Wimbledon, and a win on Russian grounds. But they have split their two meetings on hard courts. The Russian has reached the Kremlin Cup finals three times, winning in 2014, and has reached the quarterfinals of this tournament or better five times.

All three of Belinda Bencic’s career titles have been at a Premier level or higher, and she looks to win her second of the 2019 season. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova is going to her seventh final at a Premier level, and is looking to win after failing to do so for a year and a half.

Bencic vs Pavlyuchenkova Stats

In order for Pavlyuchenkova to beat Belinda Bencic, she will have to establish herself early on. Belinda Bencic is able to dictate the pace of the match, and when she is able to do that, it’s been very difficult for her opponents to find their way. Bencic is the heavy favorite going into the final at -140, and Pavlyuchenkova is +110. Mind you, this match is expected to go three sets, as both players have been playing high quality level tennis, but expect Bencic to come out on top.