Cincinnati Open 2024: Jessica Pegula vs Karolina Muchova preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick
Match Details
Fixture: (6) Jessica Pegula vs Karolina Muchova
Date: August 15, 2024
Tournament: Cincinnati Open 2024
Round: Second Round (Round of 32)
Venue: Lindner Family Tennis Center, Mason, Ohio, US
Category: WTA 1000
Surface: Hard
Prize Money: $3,211,715
Live Telecast: US - Tennis Channel | UK - Sky Sports | Canada - TSN+
Jessica Pegula vs Karolina Muchova preview
After a first-round bye, Jessica Pegula will face Karolina Muchova in the second round of the Cincinnati Open 2024.
A semifinal finish in Adelaide didn't translate to a deep run at the Australian Open for Pegula, where she lost in the second round. She made another semifinal in San Diego, and once again fell in the second round after that, this time at the Indian Wells Open.
Following a quarterfinal appearance at the Miami Open and a semifinal at the Charleston Open, Pegula went on an injury hiatus. She returned to action during the grass swing, and won her first title of the year in Berlin, and then lost in the second round of Wimbledon.
Pegula bowed out in the second round of the Paris Olympics, and returned to Toronto to defend her Canadian Open title. She mounted a successful title defence, and beat Amanda Anisimova in three sets in the final to claim her third WTA 1000 title.
Muchova was drawn against World No. 34 Dayana Yastremska in the first round of the Cincinnati Open. The first set was quite chaotic, with six consecutive service breaks between the two.
Yastremska led 6-1 in the tie-break but Muchova staged an impressive fightback as she saved five set points and won seven points on the trot to snatch the set. The Czech went down a break to trail 2-1 in the second set, and then reeled off the next five games for a 7-6 (6), 6-2 win.
Jessica Pegula vs Karolina Muchova head-to-head
While this will be the second career meeting between them, the head-to-head still stands at 0-0. Muchova gave Pegula a walkover in Dubai last year, which doesn't count as a win or loss for either player.
Jessica Pegula vs Karolina Muchova odds
(Odds are sourced from BetMGM)
Jessica Pegula vs Karolina Muchova prediction
Muchova weathered plenty of ups and downs in her first hardcourt match of the season to down Yastremska. The Czech is currently on the comeback trail, and only returned to the tour a couple of months ago. She lost to Coco Gauff in the final here last year.
Pegula dealt with her own injury-related setbacks this year, and has emerged stronger after her ordeal. Defending her title in Toronto would've given her that extra boost of confidence as well.
Pegula has momentum on her side, and with Muchova's comeback still in its infancy, she will be the underdog in this match-up. The Czech certainly has the game to trouble her opponent but the American will be favored to make it through this clash.
Pick: Jessica Pegula to win in straight sets.