Ningbo Open 2024: Paula Badosa vs Diana Shnaider preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds, and pick
Match Details
Fixture: (8) Paula Badosa vs Diana Shnaider
Date: 14 October 2024
Tournament: Ningbo Open 2024
Round: First Round (Round of 32)
Venue: Yinzhou Tennis Center, Ningbo, China
Category: WTA 500
Surface: Hardcourt
Prize Money: $922,573
Live Telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | India - Sony Sports Network | Canada - TSN
Paula Badosa vs Diana Shnaider preview
Eighth seed Paula Badosa will look to get her 2024 Ningbo Open campaign underway when she takes on Diana Shnaider of Russia in the first round. A former World No. 2, Badosa has been in exceptional form on the Tour in the last few months. She enters the Ningbo Open on the back of a semifinal run at the China Open, losing 6-4, 4-6, 2-6 to Coco Gauff.
The World No. 14 has had other good results on hard courts. Since her fourth career title win at the Citi Open, Badosa has shown glimpses of past form in her matches. She reached the semifinal of the Cincinnati Open, losing 2-6, 6-3, 3-6 to Jessica Pegula. She also reached the quarterfinal at the US Open, losing 2-6, 5-7 to home favorite Emma Navarro despite leading 5-1 in the second set.
On the other hand, 2024 has been the best year in Shanider's professional tennis career, as she has won three titles in the season so far. The unique nature of those triumphs is that the 20-year-old won it across all three surfaces- the Thailand Open (hard), the Bad Homburg Open (grass), and the Hungarian Grand Prix (clay).
Barring the title in Thailand, the World No, 16 has had other impressive hard-court results such as reaching the semifinal of the Canadian Open and the Korea Open. She lost 4-6, 3-6 to Pegula in the former and 3-6, 4-6 to Daria Kasatkina in the latter.
Paula Badosa vs Diana Shnaider head-to-head
The two players have met five times, with Badosa leading the head-to-head 3-2. However, the last time these two players met was the quarterfinal of the Bad Homburg Open, where Shnaider won, 6-3, 7-6(3)
Paula Badosa vs Diana Shnaider odds
(Odds are sourced from BetMGM)
Paula Badosa vs Diana Shnaider prediction
Badosa has been in top form since her first-round exit at the Madrid Open. After the disappointment at her home tournament, the Spaniard has had a 28-8 record on the Tour, with a title in Washington and multiple semifinal finishes. Overall, she has a 60 percent win record on hard courts in her career, with three titles on the surface.
Shnaider enters the event in Ningbo with some poor form. The World No. 16 had a third-round exit at the China Open, losing to Magdalena Frech 6-0, 3-6, 4-6, and losing 7-6(7), 3-6, 3-6 to Leylah Fernandez in the opening round of the Wuhan Open. The Russian has a similar 60 percent win record on hard courts, with one title on the surface.
Based on their current form, Badosa will be the sight favorite to win the match, although it has the potential of going the full distance of three sets.
Pick- Badosa to win in three sets.