Tokyo 2024: Sofia Kenin vs Clara Tauson preview, head-to-head, prediction, and pick | Toray Pan Pacific Open
Match Details
Fixture: (WC) Sofia Kenin vs (LL) Clara Tauson
Date: October 24, 2024
Tournament: Toray Pan Pacific Open 2024
Round: Second Round (Round of 16)
Venue: Ariake Coliseum, Tokyo, Japan
Category: WTA 500
Surface: Hard
Prize Money: $922,573
Live Telecast: US - Tennis Channel | UK - Sky Sports
Sofia Kenin vs Clara Tauson preview
Sofia Kenin will face Clara Tauson in the second round of the Toray Pan Pacific Open on Thursday (October 24). The winner of the match will face either Daria Kasatkina or McCartney Kessler in the quarterfinals of the WTA 500 event.
Kenin entered the tournament in Tokyo on the back of an opening-round exit at the Japan Women's Open in Osaka. The American started the WTA 500 competition against Wang Xinyu and started the match by taking the first set 6-1.
Kenin made a solitary break in the second set and this was enough to fetch her a 6-1, 6-4 win and book her place in the second round of the Toray Pan Pacific Open. It also ended the 25-year-old's three-match winning streak.
Clara Tauson had an impressive run at the Japan Women's Open the previous week as she reached the quarterfinals after wins over Katie Volynets and Harriet Dart. Here, the Dane lost to seventh seed Diane Parry.
Tauson initially failed to qualify for the main draw of the Toray Pan Pacific Open but entered as a lucky loser. The 21-year-old faced Nao Hibino, which was her third successive match against a Japanese player. Her serve got broken in the very first game of the match but she bounced back and eventually won the first set 6-2.
Tauson was trailing 2-3 in the second set after being broken twice but she won four games in a row to secure a 6-2, 6-3 win and book her place in the second round of the WTA 500 event.
Sofia Kenin vs Clara Tauson head-to-head
Tauson leads 1-0 in the head-to-head against Kenin, having beaten her 6-2, 7-5 in the third round of the French Open.
Sofia Kenin vs Clara Tauson odds
Odds will be updated when available.
Sofia Kenin vs Clara Tauson prediction
Given Tauson's ranking and her considerably better win-loss record so far in 2024, the Dane will enter the match as the favorite. However, Kenin should not be written off as on her day, she can be a menace for the Dane.
The American won 30 out of 36 points on her first serve in her last match and served two aces. However, she also served three double faults and will have to be careful not to produce too many of those against Tauson. Kenin will have to be aggressive from the start and will have to make full use of the versatility she possesses in her shot making.
Tauson has an effective serve that fetched her eight aces in her match against Nao Hibino. The Dane had a lower double count of four but still, it would be risky to serve too many of those against Kenin, especially if the American is at her best.
Tauson, like Kenin, also plays aggressively from the back of the court and will look to keep the American on the backfoot. The Dane also disguises her drop shots well, which could come in handy in long rallies.
Given the playing styles of both competitors, it could come down to who makes fewer mistakes on the day. Tauson won her last match against Kenin and there is a good chance of her triumphing once again to reach the quarterfinals of the Toray Pan Pacific Open.
Pick: Tauson to win in straight sets.