Cincinnati Open 2024: Paula Badosa vs Yulia Putintseva preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick
Match Details
Fixture: Paula Badosa vs Yulia Putintseva
Date: Friday, August 16, 2024
Tournament: Cincinnati Open 2024
Round: Third-Round (Round of 32)
Venue: Lindner Family Tennis Center, Mason, Ohio, U.S.
Category: WTA 1000
Surface: Hard
Prize Money: $3,211,715
Live Telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Sky Sports | Canada - TSN+
Paula Badosa vs Yulia Putintseva preview
Paula Badosa will square off against Yulia Putintseva in a tantalizing third-round clash at the 2024 Cincinnati Open on Friday, August 16.
Badosa opened her campaign with a routine 6-2, 7-5 victory over home favorite Peyton Stearns in the first round. Up against 13th seed Anna Kalinskaya in the second round, Badosa snagged ahead first with a hard-fought break in the sixth game. Kalinskaya broke immediately back, only for Badosa to once again take the lead in the subsequent game. She then went on to serve out the set convincingly with a blistering ace.
Badosa started the second set stronger and was soon rewarded with a break of serve in the fifth game courtesy of a pin-point cross-court backhand. She broke Kalinskaya's serve once more en route to a comfortable 6-3, 6-2 win.
Putintseva kicked off her campaign against Harriet Dart. The experienced Kazakh fought back from a set down to seal an emphatic 4-6, 6-0, 6-1 win. Up against second seed Coco Gauff in the second round, Putintseva shocked the home faithful by going up the break in the third game. That moment proved critical as she went on to surprisingly win the first set.
Gauff fought back in the second set with an early break. Another break in favor of Gauff in the final game saw them head into a decider. Some flawless tennis from the back of the court from Putsinva saw her seal a 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 victory and her first against Gauff.
Paula Badosa vs Yulia Putintseva head-to-head
Paula Badosa leads Yulia Putintseva 3-1 in their head-to-head. She won their previous encounter at the 2024 French Open in three tight sets 4-6, 6-1, 7-5.
Paula Badosa vs Yulia Putintseva odds
(Odds sourced from BetMGM)
Paula Badosa vs Yulia Putintseva prediction
Paula Badosa has been on great knick lately in the American hard court swing, and looks destined for a deep run at the Western and Southern Open this year. She's been good on serve all week, but it has been her baseline play in particular that has to be lauded.
Yulia Putintseva, meanwhile, heads into the encounter on the back of a terrific victory over Gauff. While her serving was okay, her relentless play from the back of the court has been terrific to watch. She seems to be getting better as the rally goes on longer and has been a tricky customer approaching the net every once in a while.
In what will be a battle between two terrific baseliners, Badosa could just come out on top, given her good run of form lately. Their last encounter, however, was a tight one, and it could quite possibly be another fiercely contested affair.
Pick: Badosa in three sets.