Canadian Open 2024: Paula Badosa vs Jelena Ostapenko preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick
Match details
Fixture: (PR) Paula Badosa vs (4) Jelena Ostapenko
Date: August 8, 2024
Tournament: Canadian Open 2024
Round: Second round (Round of 32)
Venue: Toronto, Canada
Category: WTA 1000
Surface: Hard
Prize money: $2,788,468
Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | Canada - Sportsnet, TVA Sports | UK - Amazon Prime Video | India - Sony Liv
Paula Badosa vs Jelena Ostapenko preview
The second round of the 2024 Canadian Open will feature a tantalizing match-up between former World No. 2 Paula Badosa, and a former Grand Slam Champion, Jelena Ostapenko. Badosa is coming on the back of her fourth career title at the Citi Open, where she defeated Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic in the final.
Barring the title win, Badosa has shown good form in the last few months, reaching the fourth round of the Wimbledon and a quarter-final at the Bad Homburg Open, losing to Donna Vekic and Diana Shnaider respectively. The Spaniard began her campaign at the 2024 Canadian Open, with a crushing 6-1, 6-4 win over Clara Tauson of Denmark in the first round.
Jelena Ostapneko has found her vintage form in 2024, winning two titles at the Linz Open and the Adelaide International, and having an overall 28-13 record in the season. Although the Latvian is coming after a shock loss at the hands of Camila Osorio in the opening round of the Paris Olympics, she will look forward to brushing that aside and putting her best foot forward at the Canadian Open.
Apart from her title wins, Ostapenko also reached the quarter-finals at marquee events such as the Wimbledon Championships and the Italian Open. The World No. 11 is the fourth seed in Canada and hence got a bye in her opening-round match.
Paula Badosa vs Jelena Ostapenko head-to-head
The head-to-head between the two players is tied at 2-2, with Ostapenko winning the last match at last year's Italian Open.
Paula Badosa vs Jelena Ostapenko odds
(Odds are sourced from BetMGM)
Paula Badosa vs Jelena Ostapenko prediction
In her match against Clara Tauson, Badosa could only serve 45 percent of first serves, although winning 83 percent of the first serve points. She equally attacked the second serve of her opponent, winning 64 percent of her points behind her opponent's second serve.
Ostapenko is a player who plays a high-risk high-reward style of tennis. The former French Open champion relies on hitting winners on both the forehand and backhand side, to overpower her opponent. However, the Latvian is also prone to making double faults, and unforced errors in her bid to keep the rallies under her control with flat groundstrokes.
Even though Ostapenko is the fourth seed, this match is far more evenly matched on paper. If Ostaepnko misses her first serve, Badosa is a player who is powerful on second-serve returns. Similarly, Badosa has to be on her toes, so that she can place the ball from where Ostapenko cannot hit winners at will. The current form dictates a slight advantage to the Spaniard as she has just won a title.
Pick- Badosa to win in three sets