The two best players on clay this season are Dinara Safina and Svetlana Kuznetsova and they will meet in the 2009 Roland Garros final tomorrow. It should be a classic match, but all-Russian matches, like all-Williams matches, disappoint more often than not.
Safina has been plowing through the draw like a scythe, with only one slight hiccup against Belarussian youngster Victoria Azarenka who had the World #1 plaintively asking her coach "I don't know what to do, tell me what to do!" Kuznetsova, because of her now-deserved reputation for mental infirmity late in important matches has not been the favorite of most tennis pundits. However, since she was able to beat Serena Williams in one of the best matches of the year in the quarterfinals: 7-6(3) 5-7 7-5 and despite showing some mental weakness again in her semifinal against Samantha Stosur Kuznetsova again was able to gut out a win 6-4 6-7(5) 6-3. Can she make it three in a row? I doubt it.
It is fascinating that the 2006 finalist (Kuznetsova, lost to Justine Henin) is playing against the 2008 finalist (Safina, who lost to Ana Ivanovic). The 2007 finalist (Ivanovic) won the title the following year. Can the 2008 finalist (Safina) repeat this effort? Most likely.
Both Russians are closely matched physically, with huge serves, excellent forehands and backhands as well as exquisite movement on clay. I still believe that Kuznetsova is the most talented, but tennis is also (at least) 50% mental, and by getting to #1 in the world, Safina has demonstrated the mental toughness required. While Kuznetsova has demonstrated improvement in that area in this tournament I still give Safina the edge in this category.
Head to head, Safina leads their rivalry 8 to 5, although they are tied 4-4 in matches on clay and 1-1 at matches on clay at Roland Garros. I believe the match will be close but Safina will win her first major title on Saturday in Paris.
MadProfessah's pick: Safina in 3 sets.
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