Wuhan Open 2024: Zheng Qinwen vs Jasmine Paolini preview, head-to-head, prediction, and pick
Match Details
Fixture: (5) Zheng Qinwen vs (3) Jasmine Paolini
Date: 11 October, 2024
Tournament: 2024 Wuhan Open
Round: Quarter-final
Venue: Optics Valley International Tennis Center, Wuhan, China
Category: WTA 1000
Surface: Hardcourt (Outdoor)
Prize Money: $3,221,715
Live Telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Sky Sports | Canada - TSN
Zheng Qinwen vs Jasmine Paolini preview
Fifth seed Zheng Qinwen will take on third seed Jasmine Paolini in a highly anticipated quarterfinal clash at the 2024 Wuhan Open on Friday, October 11. The winner will advance to face either Ekaterina Alexandrova or Wang Xinyu in the semifinals.
Zheng comes into Wuhan fresh from a semifinal run at the China Open, where she defeated Amanda Anisimova and Mirra Andreeva before falling to Karolina Muchova in straight sets.
Zheng began her campaign in Wuhan with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Jaqueline Cristian in the second round after receiving a first-round bye. In the third round, she faced a tough challenge from Leylah Fernandez, dropping the first set before rallying back strongly with raucous home support behind her to win 5-7, 6-3, 6-0.
Paolini, meanwhile, suffered a disappointing 4-6, 0-6 loss to Magda Linette in the third round of the China Open last week but secured a doubles title alongside Sara Errani.
Paolini also received a first-round bye in Wuhan this week and opened her campaign with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Yue Yuan in the second round. She followed that up with a dominant 6-3, 6-2 victory over Erika Andreeva in the third round to reach the quarterfinals.
Zheng Qinwen vs Jasmine Paolini head-to-head
Zheng Qinwen leads Jasmine Paolini 2-0 in their head-to-head and won their previous encounter 6-2, 6-3 in Zhengzhou last year.
Zheng Qinwen vs Jasmine Paolini odds
(Odds to be updated when available)
Zheng Qinwen vs Jasmine Paolini prediction
Zheng Qinwen enters her quarterfinal clash with a 35-15 match record for the season. Her biggest achievement was winning the gold medal at the Olympics, alongside her title at the Palermo Ladies Open, her only WTA crown this year. Most of Zheng's success has come on hardcourts, and her recent form, including a semifinal run at the China Open, hold her in good stead heading into the close of the season.
Paolini, in contrast, holds a 37-16 record, with most of her success coming on clay and grass. However, her only title this year was on hardcourts in Dubai, a WTA 1000 event. Despite a strong start to the season, Paolini's recent form has been inconsistent, raising concerns about her momentum. She's also had an incredibly busy season, and fatigue could also be a concern.
Zheng enters the match as the favorite, particularly given her strong performances during the Asian swing. The slower courts in Wuhan are expected to favor Zheng's game more, posing a challenge to Paolini's defensive play.
Pick: Zheng to win in straight sets.