Monterrey Open Final Preview: Top seed Svitolina set to battle Bouzkova

Svitolina had a woeful start to the year after previously setting her sights on being World No.1 following her run to the final of the WTA Finals, where she was defending champion.

Losses to Nao Hibino at the Thailand Open, Jennifer Brady in Dubai and Amanda Anisimova in Qatar hoisted questions by many ahead of Indian Wells and despite not being part of the greatest field in Monterrey, she has got back into winning form and looked good in doing so.

Victories over Danka Kovinic (6-3, 6-2), Olga Govortsova (6-3, 6-4), Leylah-Annie Fernandez (6-4, 7-5) and Arantxa Rus (6-0, 6-1) have seen her become very much imperious in the event and live up to her number one seed tag.

She will be favourite to lift her first title of the year like Sofia Kenin was in Lyon but in facing Marie Bouzkova, she could have a battle on her hands.

Bouzkova leads the head to head 1-0 albeit when Svitolina retired in Guangzhou last season and like against Rus, the latter is unlikely to give many opportunities at the shorter balls. Despite that she will likely keep it very close throughout and might even capitalise on a lapse of concentration potentially towards the end and push her close. A match which on paper might be a foregone conclusion, could go all the way.