Korea Open 2024: Diana Shnaider vs Carol Zhao preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick
Match Details
Fixture: (4) Diana Shnaider vs (Q) Carol Zhao
Date: Wednesday, September 18, 2024
Tournament: Korea Open 2024
Round: Second Round (Round of 16)
Venue: Seoul Olympic Park Tennis Center in Seoul, South Korea
Category: WTA 500
Surface: Hard (Outdoor)
Prize Money: $922,573
Live Telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Sky Sports | Canada - DAZN | India - Tennis Channel
Diana Shnaider vs Carol Zhao preview
Fourth seed Diana Shnaider will open her campaign at the 2024 Korea Open against qualifier Carol Zhao in the second round, having received a first-round bye.
Shnaider entered Seoul on the back of an impressive 45-17 match record in her breakthrough season on the senior Tour. She's also lifted three titles this year. Her first title came at the Hua Hin Championships, where she defeated Lin Zhu in a three-set epic. She then secured the biggest title of her career so far at the WTA 500 event in Bad Homburg, beating Donna Vekic in the final.
Shnaider completed her title sweep across all surfaces by winning on clay in Budapest, where she overcame Aliaksandra Sasnovich. Her form on the North American hardcourt swing was particularly impressive too, as she reached the semifinals in Toronto and the fourth round in New York.
In contrast, Zhao has a 17-25 match record for the season, with only two of those matches coming on the WTA Tour, in Monterrey and this week in Seoul. She began her campaign in the Korean capital as the eighth seed in the qualifiers.
Zhao secured her place in the main draw by seeing off locals Gaeul Jang and Park So-hyun, marking just her second main draw appearance at a WTA event this year. In the first round, she faced another Korean player, Back Da-yeon, and sealed another comfortable straight-set victory, 6-4, 6-1.
Diana Shnaider vs Carol Zhao head-to-head
Diana Shnaider and Carol Zhao have not yet faced each other in professional competition, so their head-to-head record stands at 0-0.
Diana Shnaider vs Carol Zhao odds
(Odds sourced from BetMGM)
Diana Shnaider vs Carol Zhao prediction
Shnaider heads into this encounter as the firm favorite, thanks to her superior experience on Tour this season coupled with Zhao's inexperience in the professional circuit.
The ever-improving Russian youngster has enjoyed considerable success on hardcourts lately, boasting a 9-3 match record since Toronto. Her serve and forehand have improved as the year has progressed, making her a real threat. With her explosive all-court game and exceptional feel at the net, she appears to be a daunting prospect for the future.
Zhao, meanwhile, has struggled with consistency this season and has not advanced past the quarterfinals in any tournament. The furthest she has reached has been the quarterfinals. She has, however, been in scintillating form in Seoul this week and is yet to drop a set. She's looked good on serve and at the net.
Despite Zhao's recent surge in form, Shnaider's overall experience makes her the overwhelming favorite to win this match.
Pick: Shnaider in straight sets.