Alize Cornet vs Francesca Schiavone

Alize Cornet struggled big time in every single match here in Strasbourg, but she managed somehow to enter the finals where she awaits much, much stronger opponent than the previous ones were. Starting from Govortseva in first round and Peer in second, where she needed three sets to complete the victories, Cornet also struggled in quarter-finals against Medina Garrigues, but also yesterday against Pauline Parmentier in semi-finals, where she won 4-6 6-1 6-3. It’s obvious that the French improved her game in comparison to previous tournament, but it’s still way off the World’s best players. Her opponents weren’t from the very top of Woman’s tennis, but her wins are more than hard fought, could be said that she just was less weaker in these matches. She is just playing most of the points very defensively, trying to keep the ball on the court and her serve is not helping her either – with this style of play and weak serve she has nothing to hope against in-form Italian.

Franscesca Schiavone, on the other side, looks like she is back in her good form. She was searching for her form for the most of the season, but it seems like she entered it at the very crucial moment for her, as she is defending the finals at French Open, as she lost in the Finals of French Open last season to Na Li. After many unexpected defeats and early exits, she finally has one good tournament behind her, as she won over Catandu, Lucic, Larsson and Stephens to reach the finals, winning all of them in two straight sets. Her game is stable again, she is not making so many errors she used to make in previous weeks and most important, her serve is working well again.

The Italian has won seven out of eight times she met Cornet, ending last three matches without a lost set. Schaivone is in-form again and against improved, but still just solid French girl she should expect just an easy job on her way to lift the first title this season.

Bet: Francesca Schaivone 2-0 in sets @1.67 with Pinnacle Sports