WTA Finals 2024: Zheng Qinwen vs Barbora Krejcikova preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds, and pick
Match Details
Fixture: (7) Zheng Qinwen vs (8) Barbora Krejcikova
Date: November 8, 2024
Tournament: WTA Finals 2024
Round: Semifinal
Venue: King Saud University Indoor Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Category: WTA Year-End Championships
Surface: Hardcourt (Indoor)
Prize Money: $15.25 million
Live Telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Sky Sports | Canada - TSN
Zheng Qinwen vs Barbora Krejcikova preview
Seventh seed Zheng Qinwen will face eighth seed Barbora Krejcikova in the first semifinal of the 2024 WTA Finals on Friday, November 8. Their match will follow the women’s doubles semifinal between Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Ellen Perez and Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe, who will be up first in action.
Zheng entered her debut WTA Finals on the back of a hugely successful Asian hardcourt swing that saw her lift the crown in Tokyo, reach the final at home in Wuhan, and the semifinals the week prior in Beijing. She opened her campaign this week in Riyadh with yet another disappointing 6-3, 6-4 defeat at the hands of the World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka.
Zheng was tested once again in her following encounter against fifth seed Elena Rybakina but showed her class against a player who was making her comeback after a long injury layoff to seal a hard-fought 7-6 (4), 3-6, 6-1 win. Up against Jasmine Paolini in her final round-robin encounter, she sealed arguably her easiest win in the last month, dropping just 2 games en route a 6-1, 6-1 rout.
Krejcikova, on the contrary, endured a tough Asian hardcourt swing, picking up just one win in four encounters. Her last big result was at the Wimbledon Championships, where she shocked the tennis fraternity by picking up her second Grand Slam title. Like Zheng, she opened her campaign this week in Riyadh with a 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 defeat to Iga Swiatek.
Krejcikova then shocked Jessica Pegula in her next encounter, sealing a comprehensive 6-3, 6-3 win. In a do-or-die final match, Krejcikova delivered a vintage display against an in-form Coco Gauff to seal a 7-5, 6-4 win and a berth in her first WTA semifinals.
Zheng Qinwen vs Barbora Krejcikova head-to-head
Zheng holds a 1-0 lead in head-to-head meetings, having defeated Krejcikova 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 in their only previous encounter in Zhengzhou last year.
Zheng Qinwen vs Barbora Krejcikova odds
(Odds sourced from BetMGM)
Zheng Qinwen vs Barbora Krejcikova prediction
Zheng Qinwen has emerged as a formidable presence on the tour this year and has continued to impress at her maiden WTA Finals. She holds a formidable 29-10 record on hardcourts this year, and an impressive 14-3 run since the Asian hardcourt swing heading into this contest. While she faced early challenges this week in Riyadh, she showcased her best form in the previous round, reaffirming her status as a strong contender for the title.
Barbora Krejcikova, in contrast, has had a more challenging season outside her remarkable Wimbledon run. She holds a 9-8 record on hard courts and an 18-14 overall season tally. Friday’s semifinal will be her first on hard courts this season and her first at the WTA Finals. With little to no chance of coming out of the “group of death” when the draw was put out, Krejcikova has stunned many with her tennis so far this week, especially in her previous match against an in-form Coco Gauff. She could just go all the way should she maintain this level.
Zheng enters the match as a slight favorite, given her recent form and dominant performance in the previous round. Krejcikova, however, equipped with the skill set for indoor play, should not be underestimated.
This high-stakes showdown between two baseline experts may come down to who serves more effectively and capitalizes on return opportunities. Approaching the net and keeping points short could also be crucial in deciding the winner.
Pick: Zheng in three sets.