ASB Classic 2025: Naomi Osaka vs Hailey Baptiste preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick

Match Details

Fixture: (7) Naomi Osaka vs Hailey Baptiste

Tournament: ASB Classic 2025

Round: Quarterfinal

Venue: ASB Tennis Centre, Auckland, New Zealand

Category: WTA 250

Surface: Outdoor Hardcourt

Prize money: $267,082

Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Sky Sports

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Naomi Osaka vs Hailey Baptiste preview

Osaka in action at the ASB Classic (Image Source: Getty)

Seventh seed Naomi Osaka will face Hailey Baptiste in the quarterfinals of the ASB Classic on January 3, 2025. The winner of the match will play either eighth seed Katie Volynets or Alycia Parks in the semifinals of the WTA 250 tournament.

Osaka started her journey in Auckland against Lina Glushko and won 6-4, 6-4. She then faced Julia Grabher in the second round and won a tightly-fought first set 7-5 after breaking the Austrian in the last game of the set. The Japanese made a solitary break in the second set and this was crucial, as she ended up registering a 7-5, 6-3 win to book her place in the quarterfinals of the ASB Classic.

World No. 92 Hailey Baptiste started her campaign in the WTA 250 event with a crushing 6-0, 6-2 win over Renata Jamrichova. She then faced Jodie Burrage and found herself trailing after the Brit edged her to win the opening set 7-5.

The second set saw both players exchanging breaks in the first seven games, and Baptiste went on to save a further five break points before breaking serve in the last game to take the set and force the match into a decider.

Burrage made the first break in the third set and even had a match point during the ninth game. However, Baptiste saved it and later broke the Brit to take the set into a tiebreak. Here, the American won 8-6 to register a 5-7, 7-5, 7-6(6) victory and book her place in the quarterfinals of the ASB Classic.

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Naomi Osaka vs Hailey Baptiste head-to-head

The head-to-head between the two is currently tied at 0-0, as they haven't faced one another before on the WTA Tour.

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Naomi Osaka vs Hailey Baptiste odds

Player	Moneyline	Handicap Bets	Total Games
Naomi Osaka	-450	-1.5 (-150)	Over 20.5 (-120)
Hailey Baptiste	+310	+1.5 (+105)	Under 20.5 (-120)

All odds are sourced from BETMGM.

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Naomi Osaka vs Hailey Baptiste prediction

Naomi Osaka is ranked 35 places above Baptiste and will enter the match as the heavy favorite to win. However, the American will be high on confidence after getting to the last eight, and she should not be written off.

Osaka's serve has been a key weapon for her, and she has done well so far in Auckland, winning 53 out of 69 points (76.8%) while serving 12 aces. She has also won all but one of her service games so far during the tournament.

The Japanese will look to fetch more free points during the match while making the most of her powerful groundstrokes. Aggression has been a key factor in the 27-year-old's performances and she will look to hold the upper hand from the start of the match.

Hailey Baptiste's first-serve numbers throughout the ASB Classic so far haven't been better than those compared to Osaka, as she has won 77 out of 107 points on it (71.96%).

The American has served 13 aces in her last two matches and will look to fetch more of those against the former World No. 1. However, she has also served six double-faults so far and will have to make sure not to produce too many of those against someone of Osaka's quality. Like the Japanese, Baptiste also likes to play aggressively and she also has a decent net game.

Osaka has looked in good touch, not to forget that the American will also be feeling the effects of a tedious match with Burrage. So, there is a pretty good chance of the Japanese coming out on top and reaching the semifinals of the ASB Classic.

Pick: Osaka to win in straight sets.