Events / Guy McCrea / 20 March 2011 /

The big WTA final in Indian Wells sees Caroline Wozniacki go up against Marion Bartoli. And it's tough to see the Frenchwoman giving the world number one many problems, says Guy McCrea ...

As stunning settings to stage a tennis tournament go, the Indian Wells Tennis Garden is right up there. It is an idyllic spot in the Californian desert, served by jaw-droppingly beautiful mountain backdrops. On court, Caroline Wozniacki plays like the equivalent of one of those immovable peaks - so solid and consistent. Slowly, the Dane grinds opponents down until they crumble.

As she said herself this week, to beat Wozniacki you either have to overpower her, or be able to stick around and try to outlast her for three hours or more. Either approach requires keeping errors to an absolute minimum and endurance of the highest standard. If Wozniacki produces her usual level, then how many women on the WTA can you back to respond? Kim Clijsters is obviously one, Serena Williams another - though with her unfortunate health problems, it is doubtful if we will ever see the American play Wozniacki, or anyone else, on tour again. Perhaps add Vera Zvonareva to this very shortlist - but beyond that, I'm struggling.

None of Wozniacki's opponents over this past fortnight in Indian Wells have been able to come up with a definitive answer. Alisa Kleybanova looked like she might have to easily win the opening set in their fourth round clash. But that effort took so much out of the Russian that she then lost the next two sets at a canter.

Wozniacki was again at her obdurate best as she ambushed Maria Sharapova for the loss of just three games in the semi-finals. Sharapova arguably played her best tennis since 2008 in the lead-up to that match. But like so many others, the former world number one crumbled against Wozniacki. Sharapova can return to the WTA top ten - maybe even the top five - but I seriously doubt that she will ever enjoy the sort of Grand Slam glory that she had pre-shoulder surgery.

If Wozniacki is using this period since her latest Grand Slam disappointment at January's Australian Open to build momentum before her next major bid at Roland Garros in May ([6.8] to win), then she is doing an excellent job. Wozniacki is the model of consistency on the WTA, making finals and winning titles week-in, week-out and deserves to be the world number one. A maiden Grand Slam crown will surely arrive sooner rather than later for the likeable Dane.

Standing between Wozniacki and her fourteenth WTA singles title is Marion Bartoli. This is the Frenchwoman's first appearance in the Indian Wells final and she certainly deserves her place in Sunday's showpiece. The 15th seed got lucky that Kim Clijsters had to retire from their fourth round clash with a shoulder problem. But Bartoli was in excellent touch against both Ana Ivanovic and Yanina Wickmayer, as she married her trademark double-fisted attacks with solidity and margin that proved too good for those aggressive, but erratic opponents.

Although she achieved her standout Grand Slam result when she reached the 2007 Wimbledon final, Bartoli's game is most suited to hardcourts. This shows in her results both past and present. She won her biggest career title to date on the same surface at Stanford in 2009, beating Venus Williams in the final. She has semi-final hardcourt appearances in Brisbane and Doha to her name already this season. Even if she loses this final, Bartoli will still return to the WTA top ten in the new rankings. I don't see her being able to maintain these results when the clay court swing starts next month, but the fact is that Bartoli has been one of the form players on the WTA so far in 2011.

Can she cause an upset? Bartoli ([4.7] to beat Wozniacki) has done so in the past, winning two of their last three matches (although Wozniacki leads 4-2 overall.) But the Dane is a different player to even when Bartoli last beat her in August. Wozniacki just keeps improving and she showed that in their last meeting just last month in the Doha semi-finals. Wozniacki dusted Bartoli for the loss of just two games. The victory was even more impressive - and significant - because the Dane had been ill for much of that week and clearly wasn't completely healthy (as she proved in her below-par final defeat to Zvonareva.) But even at 75 percent - Wozniacki was still far too strong for Bartoli.

For me, that is a key factor. Even if she happens to turn in a slightly below par effort, I just can't see Wozniacki slipping up. Bartoli is talented and dangerous, but Wozniacki now has more than enough nous to deal with her. And winning breeds confidence - the Dane oozes it right now.

Recommended bets:
Back Wozniacki to win in straight sets at [1.6]

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