WTA Cleveland 2023 Final: Alexandrova vs. Sorribes Tormo Preview, Prediction, Odds & Picks

In an eagerly awaited final match in the WTA Cleveland 2023 final, fourth seed Ekaterina Alexandrova is set to clash with Sara Sorribes Tormo, who made it into the main draw as a lucky loser. 

Alexandrova's path to the final featured strong performances against Aliksandra Sasnovich and Wang Xinyu, eventually leading her to a semifinal duel with Zhu Lin. 

Although she momentarily stumbled when trying to clinch the first set, Alexandrova regrouped, ultimately winning the match 7-5, 6-2 with a dominant second set.

On the other hand, Sorribes Tormo, initially eliminated in the qualifying rounds, received a second chance to compete as a lucky loser. 

She made the most of this opportunity, advancing to the main draw where she won her first match due to Katerina Siniakova's injury-induced retirement. 

Subsequent victories against Veronika Kudermetova and Sloane Stephens earned her a semifinal spot against Tatjana Maria. 

After a back-and-forth first set, Sorribes Tormo reclaimed the momentum, triumphing 6-4, 6-3 by breaking Maria’s serve three times in the second set. 

Both athletes now look to cap off their impressive runs with a championship victory.

Best Betting Pick: Ekaterina Alexandrova on the Moneyline (-142) at BetMGM

This will be the first time the two players will face each other since their 2016 second-round qualifying match in Linz, where Sorribes Tormo defeated Alexandrova 6-4, 7-6. 

Both athletes have made significant strides in their careers since that encounter. 

Sorribes Tormo has climbed to a career-best world ranking of #32, while Alexandrova has outdone her, reaching a peak ranking of #16 and securing four titles compared to the Spaniard's single title. 

Adding another layer of intrigue to their upcoming match is the current disparity in their world rankings: Alexandrova sits at 22nd, while Sorribes Tormo is considerably lower, ranked 95th globally.

Best Betting Pick: Ekaterina Alexandrova to win first set (+146) at FanDuel

Sorribes Tormo has certainly capitalized on her second chance in the tournament, and capturing the title would be the ultimate culmination of her Cinderella story this week. Alexandrova, meanwhile, has been consistently solid throughout the competition.

Both competitors are prone to double faults, but Alexandrova has the advantage of balancing out her service errors with aces, an edge Sorribes Tormo doesn't share. Alexandrova also possesses the artillery in her groundstrokes to dominate Sorribes Tormo if she maintains her focus during the match.

However, Sorribes Tormo is adept at neutralizing powerful hitters like Alexandrova. She excels in redirecting pace and disrupting the tempo of rallies with her moonballs and drop shots. Additionally, she's renowned for transforming matches into physically demanding battles by extending the duration of points.

For Alexandrova, the goal will be to conclude points swiftly to sidestep getting dragged into a grinding battle with Sorribes Tormo. Known for her bouts of nervousness, Alexandrova sometimes relinquishes her hard-fought leads during matches. If she manages to keep her composure, she stands a good chance of securing the winner's trophy.

Best Betting Pick: Over 21.5 games (-124) at Draftkings

Sorribes Tormo has certainly capitalized on her second chance in the tournament, and capturing the title would be the ultimate culmination of her Cinderella story this week. Alexandrova, meanwhile, has been consistently solid throughout the competition.

Both competitors are prone to double faults, but Alexandrova has the advantage of balancing out her service errors with aces, an edge Sorribes Tormo doesn't share. Alexandrova also possesses the artillery in her groundstrokes to dominate Sorribes Tormo if she maintains her focus during the match.

However, Sorribes Tormo is adept at neutralizing powerful hitters like Alexandrova. She excels in redirecting pace and disrupting the tempo of rallies with her moonballs and drop shots. Additionally, she's renowned for transforming matches into physically demanding battles by extending the duration of points.

For Alexandrova, the goal will be to conclude points swiftly to sidestep getting dragged into a grinding battle with Sorribes Tormo. Known for her bouts of nervousness, Alexandrova sometimes relinquishes her hard-fought leads during matches. If she manages to keep her composure, she stands a good chance of securing the winner's trophy.

Best Betting Pick: Ekaterina Alexandrova to win 2-1 (+290) at Bet365