China Open 2024: Jessica Pegula vs Paula Badosa preview, head-to-head, prediction, and pick
Match Details
Fixture: (2) Jessica Pegula vs (15) Paula Badosa
Date: September 30
Tournament: China Open 2024
Round: Fourth Round (Round of 16)
Venue: National Tennis Center, Beijing, China
Category: WTA 1000
Surface: Hard
Prize Money: $8,955,610
Live Telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Sky Sports | Canada - TSN
Jessica Pegula vs Paula Badosa preview
Two of the most in-form players on tour, Jessica Pegula and Paula Badosa, will lock horns for a spot in the quarterfinals of the China Open.
Pegula, the second seed at this year’s tournament, has won 17 of her last 19 matches stretching back to the North American hardcourts. Her only two losses have come to Aryna Sabalenka in the Cincinnati and US Open finals.
Here in Beijing, the American has battled past Diane Parry and Veronika Kirdermetova to book her last-16 spots.
Badosa, meanwhile, also started the North American hardcourts with a title Citi Open and has taken wins over the likes of Anna Kalinskaya, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova to stage deep runs at Cincinnati and New York.The Spaniard has also made a solid start to the China Open, coming through in straight sets against Viktoriya Tomova and Rebeka Sramkova to bring her season’s win-loss to 32-16.
Jessica Pegula vs Paula Badosa head-to-head
Pegula leads Badosa in their current head-to-head 3-0. The most recent encounter between the two came in the semifials of the Cincinnati Open, with the American winning 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.
Jessica Pegula vs Paula Badosa odds
(Odds will be added once they're available)
Jessica Pegula vs Paula Badosa prediction
Both Pegula and Badosa possess similar baseline-oriented game and will look to take control of the match from the back court.
Badosa does possess the stronger serve (she is No. 7 in the season’s ace leaders with 227 service winners) but has faced some resistance this week. Her first serve winning percentage was a lowly 59% and she will need better numbers against Pegula.
The American’s flat groundstrokes are a big weapon on the quick hardcourts and she would well push her opponent on the backfoot.
Pegula has also emerged as a force to reckon with on hardcourts in recent weeks. Fans can expect some explosive hitting from both ends, but given the recent form, the American should have an edge.
Prediction: Pegula to win in three sets