Three matches to get into from the WTA China Open in Beijing today, and there's a genuinely interesting one at the top of the card. Let's get into it.
WTA China Open Predictions
Karolina Muchova vs Naomi Osaka
Head-to-head: Muchova 4-3 Osaka
This H2H is closer than you'd expect given how different these two are as players, but Muchova has quietly built a real edge over Osaka over the years. The Czech's variety gives Osaka fits, and hard courts are where that's most obvious since Osaka can't just redirect pace when Muchova keeps changing the patterns on her.
Osaka has been finding her feet again since returning, and she's had moments this year, but Muchova at her best is a level above right now. I think this goes three sets because Osaka will raise it for a set at some point and Muchova gets through.
Prediction: Muchova in 3
Linda Noskova vs Ekaterina Alexandrova
Head-to-head: Noskova 1-1 Alexandrova
Noskova's game is built for fast hard courts. She hits the ball incredibly hard for her age and Alexandrova, for all her consistency, doesn't have the pace to trouble someone who can just take over points from the baseline like this. The 1-1 H2H makes it sound competitive, but Noskova has improved considerably since their last meeting, which came before her ranking really started to climb, and the ranking gap has opened up for a reason.
Prediction: Noskova in 2
Daria Snigur vs Mirra Andreeva
Head-to-head: First meeting
Snigur is a solid player and ranked inside the top 50, but hard to see this being competitive at all. Andreeva is on another level entirely right now. She's become so good at not panicking in rallies, pulling opponents around the court until something opens up, and at 17 she's already playing with a veteran's patience. That said, Snigur won't find a way through here.
Prediction: Andreeva in 2
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © Oscar J. Barroso/AFP7 via ZUMA Wire