Citi Open 2024 final: Paula Badosa vs Marie Bouzkova preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds, and pick
Match Details
Fixture: (WC) Paula Badosa vs Marie Bouzkova
Date: August 4, 2024
Match Timing: 1:30 pm local time
Tournament: Mubadala Citi DC Open
Round: Final
Venue: Rock Creek Park Tennis Center, Washington
Category: WTA 500
Surface: Hard
Prize Money: $142,000
Live Telecast: Tennis Channel (USA) | TSN (Canada) | Sky Sports (UK)
Paula Badosa vs Marie Bouzkova preview
The final of the 2024 Citi Open will see former World No. 2. Paula Badosa taking on Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic for the title. Badosa has been gradually playing more tennis in the WTA circuit in an attempt to come back from her injury breaks. This is the Spaniard's first WTA Final since 2022, she has won all her previous three finals.
At the Citi Open, Badosa opened her campaign with a 6-1, 7-6(8) win over a former Grand Slam Champion Sofia Kenin. She then faced third seed Liudmila Samsonova in the second round and won the first set before the Russian was forced to retire.
Badosa then took on Emma Raducanu in the quarterfinals and bounced back fro a set down to beat the 21-year-old 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 to set up a semifinal clash against Caroline Dolehide. The Spaniard put on a fine performance to defeat the American 6-3, 6-3 and reach her first singles final since January 2022.
Marie Bouzkova has not had the best of seasons in 2024, bowing out events in the first few rounds. However, the Czech player reached the final of the Copa Colsanitas in Bogota, where she lost against home favorite Camilia Osorio. Bouzkova showed fine form at the Citi Open, defeating McCartney Kessler and Taylor Townsend in the first two rounds.
The Czech secured a dominant 6-3, 6-1 win over Robin Montgomery of the USA in the quarterfinal. However, she caused the biggest upset of the tournament when she defeated the top seed and current World No. 3 Aryna Sabalenka in an intense three-set battle in the semifinals.
Paula Badosa vs Marie Bouzkova head-to-head
Badosa has a 2-0 record against Bouzkova, winning the last match between the duo at the 2022 Miami Open.
Paula Badosa vs Marie Bouzkova odds
(Odds are sourced from BetMGM)
Paula Badosa vs Marie Bouzkova prediction
In her semi-final against Dolehide, Badosa won 89% of her first serve points, dropping just 3 points behind her first serve. She faced just three break points on her serve, saving all of them. On the return wing, the Spaniard was severe on the second serve of her opponent, winning 61% of the points on her opponent's second serve.
Boukova won 73% of her first serve points against Sabalenka in the semi-final. However, it was the Czech's return that was pivotal in that match. Bouzkova won over 40% of the points on her opponent's first serve, which is no small feat against a prolific server like Sabalenka. She secured eleven break point opportunities, taking 5 of them which helped her win the match.
The form that Bouzkova shows while returning will decide how this final will go. However, given the form, and the head-to-head, Badosa has a slight advantage going into the match and she should be able to continue her 100% record in finals.
Pick- Badosa to win in three sets