It smells like bagel

After Kenin, Tjen?

It’s the classic duel between raw power and academic intelligence. Ludmilla Samsonova is a specialist in the fast conditions of Abu Dhabi (a former finalist here). When her serve is ticking like clockwork, she becomes almost untouchable. Her show of strength against Kenin proves she’s in a confidence “zone” where her forehand wreaks havoc. She has the advantage of experience and of hitting a much heavier ball than her opponent.

On the other side, Janice Tjen is a player who loves to counterpunch. She’s used to facing big servers on the American circuit and never lets herself be intimidated by pace. Her game is very clean, she makes few unforced errors, and her court sense is above average. The problem for her will be holding up physically over time: Ludie’s power could wear her down if the rallies get long.

The momentum is clearly on the Russian’s side, but beware of the trap. Jan is on the rise and the market feels it. If Samsonova has a dip on serve, the little UCLA prodigy will jump right into the gap. However, on the outdoor hard courts in the Emirates, the advantage logically goes to the one who hits the hardest.