Tokyo 2024: Zheng Qinwen vs Moyuka Uchijima preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick | Toray Pan Pacific Open
Match Details
Fixture: (1) Zheng Qinwen vs Moyuka Uchijima
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
Zheng Qinwen vs Moyuka Uchijima preview
After a first-round bye, top seed Zheng Qinwen will face Moyuka Uchijima in the second round of the Toray Pan Pacific Open 2024.
Zheng started the season on a high as she advanced to her maiden Major final at the Australian Open, and lost to defending champion Aryna Sabalenka. She struggled to maintain the same level of success over the next few months, with quarterfinal appearances in Doha and Rome being her best results.
Since a first-round exit from Wimbledon, Zheng has turned her season around. She successfully defended her title in Palermo and then won the gold medal at the Paris Olympics. She overcame the disappointment of an early loss in Cincinnati with another quarterfinal showing at the US Open.
Zheng continued her good run of form during the Asian swing. She reached the semifinals of the China Open and went a round further at the Wuhan Open. She was beaten by Sabalenka in the final of the latter tournament, marking her third loss to the Belarusian this year. Nevertheless, it helped her qualify for the WTA Finals for the first time in her career.
Uchijima was up against Mika Stojsavljevic in her opener here. The former overcame a 3-1 deficit in the first set to snatch the set from her opponent. The Japanese once again rallied from a break down in the second set and even held two match points on her opponent's serve at 6-5.
However, Stojsavljevic saved them and later came out on top in the tie-break to take the set. Uchijima once again found herself on the backfoot, and overturned another break disadvantage in the third set to win the match 6-4, 6-7 (6), 7-6 (6).
Zheng Qinwen vs Moyuka Uchijima head-to-head
This will be the first meeting between them, so the head-to-head currently stands at 0-0.
Zheng Qinwen vs Moyuka Uchijima odds
(Odds are sourced from BetMGM)
Zheng Qinwen vs Moyuka Uchijima prediction
Uchijima, ranked 57th, in the world, struggled heavily against the 633rd-ranked Stojsavljevic in her opener. She did well to fight back from a break down in each of the three sets. However, unless she steps up her game, her odds of making it a competitive match in the next round remain slim.
Since losing to Lulu Sun in the first round of Wimbledon, Zheng has compiled a 24-4 record. Two of her losses during this period have come against Sabalenka, the most in-form player on the tour since August. Uchijima, on the other hand, has only five main draw wins this season.
Uchijima also hasn't won more than four games each in both of her prior matches against top 10 players. Given Zheng's form at the moment, it wouldn't be too surprising to see the Japanese being on the receiving end of yet another beatdown.
Pick: Zheng Qinwen to win in straight sets.