Linda Noskova advanced into Saturday’s final at the Monterrey Open with a gutsy straight-sets win over second seed Emma Navarro. Noskova won 7-6, 7-5 in precisely two hours. In the victory she compiled five aces to eight double adults. She got 51% of her first serves in play and won 76% of first-serve points (34/45).

She won 50% of second-serve points (22/44). Noskova converted three of six break points in the match. The Czech teenager has won six ITF titles but never won a WTA title. This will be her third career final (she lost in Adelaide and Prague).

Lulu Sun is enjoying a breakthrough season. Just two months ago, not many tennis fans had heard her name. But a run to the Wimbledon quarterfinal as a qualifier has thrown her into the limelight. The woman from New Zealand reached her first WTA final by knocking out third seed Ekaterina Alexandrova in three sets.

Sun won 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 in two hours and 19 minutes. It’s her third Top 50 win of the season. In the victory, Sun hammered 17 aces to three double faults. She got 73% of her first serve in play and won 74% of first-serve points (52/70). Sun won 54% of second-serve pints (14/26) and converted just one break point in the match.

Linda Noskova vs Lulu Sun Head-To-Head

• Sun leads Noskova 1-0 in their head-to-head, winning their only WTA meeting just this past week in Cincinnati in straight sets.

Linda Noskova vs Lulu Sun Prediction

These two players have an opportunity to bag a WTA 500 title. Noskova is only 19 but comes in with abundant experience at the top level, having competed in two previous finals on Tour. For Sun, it’s her first time. But if anything, the woman from Zealand has shown over the last two months that she’s unfazed by the occasion or opponent. Testament to this claim, Sun made the Wimbledon quarterfinal, beating the likes of Qinwen Zheng and Emma Raducanu.

One thing I like about Sun is her ability to take initiative in a rally. She’s not afraid to go for her shots and will punish you if you are too passive from the baseline. Her serve has also been a real weapon throughout the tournament. I saw Noskova being overly reliant on her opponent’s mistakes in the semifinal, which can be a dangerous game to play against aggressive players like Sun. With that said, I could see this match being just as close as when they played in Cincinnati, and Sun is oozing confidence right now. We are backing the southpaw to win her first WTA title.