Ningbo Open 2024: Katie Boulter vs Sara Errani preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds, and pick
Match Details
Fixture: Katie Boulter vs (Q) Sara Errani
Date: October 15, 2024
Tournament: Ningbo Open 2024
Round: First Round (Round of 32)
Venue: Yinzhou Tennis Center, Ningbo, China
Category: WTA 500
Surface: Hard
Prize Money: $922,573
Live Telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Sky Sports
Katie Boulter vs Sara Errani preview
World No. 34 Katie Boulter will take on qualifier Sara Errani in the first round of the Ningbo Open 2024 on Tuesday (October 15).
Boulter's career-best season has seen her claim two titles so far. She won the biggest title of her career at the San Diego Open, a WTA 500 event. She claimed her second title of the year with a successful title defense in Nottingham.
The Brit reached the fourth round of a WTA 1000 tournament for the first time at the Miami Open. Her strong start to the season saw her peak at No. 27 in the rankings in March.
However, Boulter underperformed at the Majors this year. She crashed out in the first round of the French Open, and didn't advance beyond the second round of the other three Majors. The Asian swing hasn't been too promising for her either. She reached the third round of the China Open, and lost in the first round of last week's Wuhan Open.
Errani, a former top-10 player and a Major finalist, came through the qualifying rounds of the Ningbo Open. She beat Gao Xinyu 7-5, 6-1, and secured a 6-0, 4-6, 6-4 win over Ma Yexin to book her place in the main draw.
Errani's best result this season has been a third-round showing at the US Open, and a quarterfinal appearance at the Transylvania Open. She lost in the qualifying rounds of the China Open in singles but captured the title in doubles. She also won the gold medal in doubles at the Paris Olympics, and reached the final of the French Open.
Katie Boulter vs Sara Errani head-to-head
This will be the first main-draw meeting between them. However, Boulter did beat Errani in the qualifying rounds of Indian Wells two years ago.
Katie Boulter vs Sara Errani odds
(Odds are sourced from BetMGM)
Katie Boulter vs Sara Errani prediction
Errani toughed out a win to book her place in the main draw. Aside from her renaissance in doubles, she has had a couple of decent results in singles as well. However, her 10-13 record at the main-draw level isn't in the same league as Boulter's, who has compiled a 24-18 record for the season.
Furthermore, Errani has a 1-9 record against top-40 players on hardcourts since the start of 2017. Her only win during this period came against No. 34 Wang Qiang back in 2021. She has lost all of her matches in straight sets against them since then.
Boulter's loss to No. 96 Lesia Tsurenko in Wuhan last week does indicate that Errani could have a shot at an upset. However, the Brit will still be the favorite to come out on top in this encounter.
Pick: Katie Boulter to win in straight sets.