Defending champion Garcia needs to lift her level to stop Sabalenka

Due to start at 1 pm

Sabalenka 1.47, Garcia 3.05

Sabalenka won their only previous meeting. That was  in August this year in Cincinnati. She won in 3 close sets.

Better overall results for Sabalenka. On hard courts she leads 75% v 60% matches won.

Garcia is the defending champion this week. She has had 2 tough matches so far.  In the first round Yafan Wang had 16 break chances and broke Garcia 5 times in 3 sets. Garcia’s serve improved in the next round against Hercog and she was broken once from 5 break points. Garcia won 7-6, 6-3.

Sabalenka beat Muguruza in a superb match in the last round. She won in straight sets. She had 16 break points on the Muguruza serve and converted 4 of them.  Sabalenka only faced 7 break points and was broken twice.

Garcia has the game to trouble Sabalenka but isn’t quite at her best. Back Sabalenka above 1.80.