Let's talk proper tennis, folks...wait, I didn't say that. Our stand-off here is between Lulu Sun and Lin Zhu. Now, Zhu ran through Pavlyuchenkova and Begu without losing a set. Let's acknowledge briefly that misstep with Tomljanović but give her kudos for the comeback against Cîrstea. Stefanini was a minor bump on the road, nothing more.
Moving onto Sun, she seems to be making a game of keeping us guessing. Taking Starodubtsewa, Zheng, Knutson, and Bulgaru to the brink with some heart-racing matches, perhaps testing her endurance or her coach is scoring some last-minute ratings. She certainly can lob the ball, but she needs to work on her consistency.
Coming to tournament seeds, well, they’re of absolutely no consequence to us here since both players are unseeded. It’s anyone’s game. And by anyone, I mean each bettor's hope for a good payout. Speaking of which, let's whisper no more about odds, and talk about what matters.
Despite Sun's clear resilience, Zhu's performance has been one of a player with more consistency, even though she’s had her hiccups. The more consistent player tends to have the upper hand, or racket, if you will, in tennis. So, folks... whoops, there I go again... I mean, for those who are interested, my money is on Zhu.
Albert’s Prediction: Zhu in straight sets.