Bad Homburg Open 2024: Paula Badosa vs Diana Shnaider preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick
Match Details
Fixture: (WC) Paula Badosa vs Diana Shnaider
Date: Thursday, June 27
Tournament: Bad Homburg Open 2024
Round: Quarterfinals
Venue: TC Bad Homburg, Germany
Category: WTA 500
Surface: Grass (Outdoors)
Prize Money: $922,573
Live Telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Sky Sports
Paula Badosa vs Diana Shnaider preview
Paula Badosa will lock horns with Russian youngster Diana Shnaider in a tantalizing quarterfinal clash at the Bad Homburg Open 2024 on Thursday, June 27.
Badosa kicked off her grasscourt swing in Berlin last week. She decided against playing in the singles event and instead featured in doubles action alongside Victoria Azarenka. The pair were dominant during their opener but were forced to withdraw ahead of their second round encounter against Katerina Siniakova and Linda Noskova.
Badosa opened her campaign in Bad Homburg with a routine 6-4, 6-1 victory over Arantxa Rus in the first round. She then took on home favorite Jule Niemeier in the second round. Both players began terrifically on serve, but it was Niemeier who won the opener courtesy of some blistering ball striking from the baseline in the tenth game.
Badosa was on the charge early in the second set, breaking Niemeier's serve in the first game. She continued to dominate from the baseline and soon leveled the score at one set apiece. The Spaniard carried that momentum into the decider and once again broke Niemeier's serve early. Another two breaks of serve in her favor helped seal an emphatic 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 comeback victory.
Shnaider, meanwhile, kicked off her grasscourt swing in 's-Hertogenbosch, losing in the first round to Yuan Yue in three sets. She contested in the Birmingham Classic the following week and started brilliantly, seeing off Amelia Rajecki and eighth seed Marie Bouzkova in the opening two rounds without dropping a set. Her run was brought to a halt by Elisabetta Cocciaretto in the quarterfinals in a grueling three-setter 5-7, 6-4, 6-2.
Shnaider opened her campaign in Bad Homburg with an emphatic 7-5, 6-3 victory over three-time Grand Slam champion and home favorite Angelique Kerber. Up against Dayana Yastremska in the second round, the young Russian played some flawless tennis en route to a commanding 6-2, 6-2 victory.
Paula Badosa vs Diana Shnaider head-to-head
Paula Badosa leads Diana Shnaider 3-1 in their head-to-head. She won their most recent encounter 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 in Rome earlier this year.
Paula Badosa vs Diana Shnaider odds
(Odds sourced from BetMGM)
Paula Badosa vs Diana Shnaider prediction
An exciting match awaits fans in Bad Homburg as Paula Badosa and Diana Shnaider head into their quarterfinal encounter on the back of some terrific form recently.
Badosa opened her campaign in style but was put to the test in the second round. Despite dropping the opening set against Niemeier, the Spaniard displayed incredible mental resolve to eventually seal it comfortably in three. She was on song from the back of the court and her serve only seems to be getting better with every match played. Her net play too must be lauded as it has been incredibly effective every time she has decided to come forward.
Shnaider too has been in scintillating form this week and is yet to drop a set. She's been terrific on serve and has averaged 78% points won behind her first serve across her two matches in Bad Homburg so far. She's been equally potent on the return, breaking serve a total of eight times already.
The pair have already faced off thrice this year, with Badosa leading with two wins. Their last encounter saw Badosa battle back from a set down to eventually seal a gritty three set win. Both players seemed to get the best out of each other on that occasion, and we could very likely see more of the same despite the change in surface.
Badosa enters the contest the slight favorite, but discounting another surprise from Shnaider wouldn't be wise. The winner could ultimately be decided by whoever sticks to the task and plays the bigger points better.
Pick: Badosa in three sets.