Three picks from the second round of the WTA China Open in Beijing, and honestly it's a fascinating slate with a couple of real upsets potentially on the cards. Let's get into it.
WTA China Open Predictions
Karolina Muchova vs Katie Boulter
Head-to-head: Muchova 2-0 Boulter
Muchova leads their H2H 2-0 and has generally had Boulter's number when they've met, but this one might be trickier than the record suggests. Boulter has been playing some of her best tennis in the last year and is dangerous on hard courts, and Muchova is still working her way back to full form after her injury struggles. The variety in Muchova's game is genuinely hard to prepare for, though, and I think that makes the difference here.
Prediction: Muchova in 3
Jasmine Paolini vs Daria Snigur
Head-to-head: First meeting
Paolini has had a brilliant season and the ranking gap suggests this should be comfortable, but Snigur is a big, hard-hitting player and this is a first meeting on fast hard courts where the Ukrainian's ball-striking can really do damage. Hard to see Paolini finding easy answers against someone who can hurt her off both wings, making that footwork-based game much harder to execute. Snigur takes this one.
Prediction: Snigur in 3
Marie Bouzkova vs Kimberly Birrell
Head-to-head: First meeting
Birrell has quietly been having a solid season and comes in ranked above where most casual fans would place her, and on hard courts she's become so good at staying aggressive without going for too much. That said, Bouzkova is a solid defender but she hasn't been in the kind of form that would make you back her confidently here. Feel like Birrell's game is well-suited to these conditions and she gets through, all things considered.
Prediction: Birrell in 3
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
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