Guadalajara Open 2024: Caroline Garcia vs Ena Shibahara preview, head-to-head, prediction and pick
Match Details
Fixture: (4) Caroline Garcia vs (Q) Ena Shibahara
Date: September 12, 2024
Tournament: US Open 2024
Round: Second Round (Round of 16)
Venue: Panamerican Tennis Centre, Guadalajara
Category: WTA 500
Surface: Hard
Prize money: $922,573
Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Amazon Prime Video
Caroline Garcia vs Ena Shibahara preview
Fourth seed Caroline Garcia will take on Japanese Qualifier Ena Shibahara in the second round of the 2024 Guadalajara Open. Garcia, a top-30 player, has had a far from impressive season so far in 2024. The former World No. 4 has a 16-15 win/loss tally in 2024 with mediocre success in some tournaments. She last played at the US Open, losing to Renata Zarazua in the opening round.
By far, Garcia's most successful run was at the Open de Rouen, where she reached the semi-finals, losing to eventual champion Sloane Stephens. On the hard courts, her best performance was at the Miami Open, when she had a run to the quarter-finals, losing to eventual champion Danielle Collins. Being one of the top seeds in the event, Garcia got a bye in the opening round of the Guadalajara Open.
Ena Shibahara has mostly played on the ITF Tour in 2024, winning a title in Austin. However, she has not made much headway in the main draw-level matches at the tour-level events. The Japanese last played at the US Open, winning four consecutive matches to reach the second round, losing to top seed Iga Swiatek.
Shibahara has given a good account of herself at the Guadalajara Open so far. She defeated Emiliana Arango and Elizabeth Mandlik in the qualifiers before triumphing 6-4 7-6(4) over Kimberly Birrell in the first round.
Caroline Garcia vs Ena Shibahara head-to-head
This will be the first meeting between the two players on the WTA Tour.
Caroline Garcia vs Ena Shibahara odds
(Odds sourced from BetMGM)
Caroline Garcia vs Ena Shibahara prediction
Caroline Garcia has won some of her biggest career titles on hard courts. She has five titles on the surface, which includes 3 WTA 1000 titles, the last of which came at the 2022 Cincinnati Open, where she defeated Petra Kvitova in the final. Garcia also won the WTA Finals in Fort Worth in 2022 on the hard courts, defeating Aryna Sabalenka in the final.
Ena Shibahara is yet to win a WTA title in her career, since making her debut in 2018. The Japanese player has had more success in doubles, with her biggest title coming at the 2022 French Open mixed doubles, where she won the event partnering with Wesley Koolhof.
Considering the pedigree of both players on hard course, and given that Garcia is a former Top 5 player in the world, the French player is the favorite to win the upcoming match.
Pick- Caroline Garcia in straight sets