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Match Details
Fixture: (5) Zheng Qinwen vs (LL) Kamilla Rakhimova
Date: September 28, 2024
Tournament: China Open 2024
Round: Second Round (Round of 64)
Venue: National Tennis Center, Beijing, China
Category: WTA 1000
Surface: Hard
Prize Money: $8,955,610
Live Telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Sky Sports | Canada - TSN
Zheng Qinwen vs Kamilla Rakhimova preview
Home favorite Zheng Qinwen will take on lucky loser Kamilla Rakhimova in the second round of the China Open 2024.
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Zheng had a solid start to the season as she reached her maiden Major final at the Australian Open. She was no match to defending champion Aryna Sabalenka and lost to her in straight sets. While she had some decent results over the next few months, she failed to match her impressive start to the year.
It all changed after Zheng successfully defended her title in Palermo with a win over Karolina Muchova in the final. She then claimed the gold medal in singles at the Paris Olympics and beat World No. 1 Iga Swiatek en route to the top honors as well.
While Zheng bowed out in the third round of the Cincinnati Open, she made the quarterfinals of the US Open for the second straight year. She was once again outplayed by Sabalenka and went down to her in straight sets. She received a bye into the second round of the China Open.
Rakhimova was the top seed in the China Open qualifiers and began her journey with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Qu Yihan. She took on Kimberly Birrell for a spot in the main draw and lost to her in three sets despite being up by a set.
However, Rakhimova got a second lease of life as a lucky loser and got into the main draw. In a strange twist of fate, she faced Birrell once again in her opener. She avenged her prior loss with a 6-2, 6-4 victory.
Zheng Qinwen vs Kamilla Rakhimova head-to-head
This will be the first career meeting between them, so the head-to-head stands at 0-0 for now.
Zheng Qinwen vs Kamilla Rakhimova odds
(Odds are sourced from BetMGM)
Zheng Qinwen vs Kamilla Rakhimova prediction
Rakhimova made the most of her second shot and got the better of Birrell to record her maiden main draw win at the WTA 1000 level. Despite the routine scoreline, there were a few games that went to deuce, and she had to bail herself out of trouble from time to time.
Zheng will aim to have a good start in front of her home crowd. She has reached a couple of WTA 1000 quarterfinals this year, though she has also crashed out without a win on two occasions. She failed to cross the opening hurdle at Indian Wells and Madrid, losing to Yuan Yue and Yulia Putintseva respectively.
However, Zheng looks to be in better form and headspace at the moment. Based on their performances this year, this contest is skewed heavily in her favor, and she's likely to live up to the billing as the favorite.
Pick: Zheng Qinwen to win in straight sets.
