China Open 2024: Paula Badosa vs Zhang Shuai preview, head-to-head, prediction, and pick

Match Details

Fixture: (15) Paula Badosa vs Zhang Shuai

Date: October 2, 2024

Tournament: China Open 2024

Round: Quarterfinal

Venue: National Tennis Center, Beijing, China

Category: WTA 1000

Surface: Hard

Prize money: $8,955,610

Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Amazon Prime | Canada - TSN

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Paula Badosa vs Zhang Shuai preview

Paula Badosa (Getty)

The quarterfinal of the 2024 China Open will see 15th-seeded Paula Badosa take on home favorite Zhang Shuai. Badosa has been in good form in 2024 and is gradually working her way up the rankings. The former World No. 3 has a 33-16 record this season, with one title to her name. She last played at the US Open, losing to Emma Navarro in the quarterfinal.

Badosa's best results have come on the hard courts this season, winning her fourth career title at the Citi Open, overcoming Marie Bouzkova in the final. She also reached the semifinal of the Cincinnati Open, losing to Jessica Pegula. At the China Open, the 15th seed has yet to lose a set. After getting a first-round bye, Badosa registered wins over Viktoriya Tomova and Rebecca Sramkova in the next two rounds.

The Spanish player got her most impressive win in the fourth round, defeating US Open runner-up Jessica Pegula, bageling the in-form American player to advance to the quarterfinal.

Zhang Shuai entered the China Open on the back of a record-breaking losing streak on the WTA tour. She had not won a tour-level match since the Lyon Open in January last year. This year, her record was 0-8 coming into Beijing.

However, the Chinese player turned her fortunes. After entering the main draw as a wildcard, Shuai defeated McCartney Kessler in the first round. She followed it up with an impressive victory over sixth-seeded Emma Navarro in the second round. and Greet Minnen in the third. Zhang defeated another seeded player, winning against 23rd-seeded Magdalena Frech in the fourth round.

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Paula Badosa vs Zhang Shuai head-to-head

This will be the first meeting between the two players, hence their head-to-head stands at 0-0.

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Paula Badosa vs Zhang Shuai odds

Player Name	Moneyline	Handicap Bets	Total Games
Paula Badosa	TBD	TBD	TBD
Zhang Shuai	TBD	TBD	TBD

(Odds will be updated once available)

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Paula Badosa vs Zhang Shuai prediction

Paula Badosa has a 60 percent win record on hard courts in her career. She has won three titles on the surface, the last of which was the Citi Open this year. Her biggest career achievement came on the same surface, winning the 2022 BNP Paribas Open by defeating Victoria Azarenka in the final.

Zhang's best results have come on the hard courts with four finals and all three of her career titles coming on the same surface. The last hard court title for the Chinese player came in at the Lyon Open in 2022, defeating Dayana Yastremska in the final.

Although Zhang will be riding on a resurgent wave of good form and home support, the overall string of results and performances Badosa has put up chalks her as the favorite to win the match.

Pick- Paula Badosa to win in straight sets