Palermo Ladies Open Final 2024: Zheng Qinwen vs Karolina Muchova preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick
Match Details
Fixture: (1) Zheng Qinwen vs (2) Karolina Muchova
Date: Monday, 22 July 2024
Tournament: Palermo Ladies Open, 2024
Round: Finals
Venue: Country Time Club, Palermo, Italy
Category: WTA 250
Surface: Clay
Prize: $267,082
Where to watch: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - SKY Sports | Canada - DAZN
Zheng Qinwen vs Karolina Muchova preview
Top seed Zheng Qinwen will take on Karolina Muchova in the Palermo Ladies Open final on Monday.
Qinwen has been one of the standout performers on the women's tour this year. She reached her first Major final at the Australian Open, but came up shy against defending champion Aryna Sabalenka. She also reached the quarterfinals in Dubai and the Italian Open in Rome, where she lost to Coco Gauff in straight sets.
The Chinese No. 1 entered Palermo on the back of a disappointing first round exit in Wimbledon. She steadied the ship here with impressive wins over Petra Martic and Jaqueline Cristian en route to the semifinals and then outmuscled Diane Parry in the last four. Qinwen defeated the talented Frenchwoman in one hour and 38 minutes 7-5, 6-4.
![Muchova at the 2023 US Open [Getty]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/07/acbc5-17215448872490-1920.jpg)
Meanwhile, second-seeded Karolina Muchova returned to the women's tour after 10 months at the Eastbourne International. She had been dealing with a wrist injury which kept her on the sidelines for a lengthy period. The Czech chalked up a quarterfinal appearance in Eastbourne and a first round exit in Wimbledon. Despite a spirited effort against Paula Badosa, she fell to the Spaniard in straight sets in London.
Muchova got back to winning ways at the Palermo Ladies Open. She began her campaign with a solid win against Katarzyna Kawa and then outfoxed the likes of Astra Sharma and Irina Camelia Begu on her way to the semifinals, where she defeated the Romanian Camelia Begu in straight sets 6-1, 6-1.
Zheng Qinwen vs Karolina Muchova head-to-head
Muchova leads the head-to-head against Qinwen 1-0. Their only meeting on tour came at the 2022 Madrid Open.
Zheng Qinwen vs Karolina Muchova odds
Odds will be updated when available.
Zheng Qinwen vs Karolina Muchova prediction
After a brilliant start to the season, critics have high expectations from Zheng Qinwen on tour. She has the makings of a top competitor and has proved time and again to be capable of performing under pressure. The Chinese player likes to play an offensive brand of tennis and has a powerful all-around game.
Muchova, on the contrary, has been unfortunate with repeated injuries in the past few years. Despite significant roadblocks, the Czech reached the finals in Paris and the semifinals in New York last year. She will be raring to make a strong run again and has the chance to claim her first title of the year in Palermo.
Two players with the ability to play high-quality tennis will face each other in the final of the Palermo Ladies Open. While Qinwen's recent results and match fitness should make her the favorite to come out on top, Muchova's splendid skill set and resilience on clay might tilt the tie in her favor. The Czech should be able to use her experience and solve this riddle against the top seed.
Pick: Muchova to win in three sets.