St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy, Russia

[10] Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) vs. [23] Daria Kasatkina (RUS)

This is Mladenovic’s first final since she got to the final in Madrid, last May.  Like many athletes, she has been a victim of injury, which takes not only a physical toll but a mental toll as well.  It has been a battle to get her game back to the level she had prior to the injury and she is still not quite there as yet. She is back in her second consecutive final in St. Petersburg though, and that is a positive. Today was a test for the Frenchwoman who struggled to stay consistent on serve. Nerves played a role for both players as they failed to hold serve. Mladenovic finally tightened up her game in the latter stages; however, she will have to be a lot sharper in the final tomorrow if she wants to hoist the trophy once more. Mladenovic won 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 and will face Petra Kvitova in the final.

Kvitova has a bigger serve than Kasatkina and can hit winners off the ground more consistently than the Russian could. Despite the slight stumble in the second set against Julia Goerges, Kvitova knows that she has a winning record against Mladenovic and that will help her cause. Given that the Frenchwoman has been struggling in the confidence department lately, she will have an uphill battle tomorrow. Add to the fact that she has only defeated Kvitova once, she will have to take her game to another level tomorrow to have any chance of success.

It could be a good final if they both play at their potential; however, the pressure is on Mladenovic, who has to defend points and that may be key to the outcome.

SOURCE OF IMAGES:  Zimbio.com (Cameron Spencer/Getty Images AsiaPac: Kristina Mladenovic)