The top seed, Jessica Pegula, and the surprising Chinese player, Yuan Yue, will face off in the final of the 2023 Hana Bank Korea Open on October 15. Here is our event preview for the second encounter between the American and the Chinese player.

The top-ranked and consistently high-performing Pegula (4th) lived up to expectations in Seoul, South Korea. As the only top-10 player in the tournament, it was anticipated that Pegula would have no trouble winning her matches, and she progressed with consecutive victories over Viktoria Kuzmova, Ashlyn Krueger, Clare Liu, and Yanina Wickmayer.

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This is Pegula's second final in the Asian swing, as she finished as the runner-up at the Tokyo Open a couple of weeks ago, losing to Veronika Kudermetova. It's also the 9th final of Pegula's career, and she has won three titles, but none in the WTA 250 category.

She will face China's Yue Yuan (128th), who had the best week of her career and is in her first final at this level. Along the way, she defeated the qualifier Arantxa Rus and then Kaja Juvan, the 4th seed Marie Bouzkova, and Emma Bektas.

Yuan Yue has gradually improved her results and, at 25 years old, has made her mark on the WTA Tour by playing in more prominent tournaments. She has competed in four main draws of Grand Slam events, including reaching the third round at the 2022 US Open.

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Incidentally, at Flushing Meadows, they played their only match against each other, and Pegula defeated the Chinese player in a match that was competitive at times, but the American ultimately stepped up her game and won 6-2, 6-7(6), 6-0.

Although Yuan has shown competitiveness, Pegula is the overwhelming favorite. For the American, her serve will be crucial, as she has won over 70% of the points played with her first serve.

Prediction: Pegula in straight sets.