Japan Women's Open 2024: Katie Volynets vs Clara Tauson preview, head-to-head, prediction, and pick

Match Details

Fixture: (9) Katie Volynets vs Clara Tauson

Date: 14 October, 2024

Tournament: 2024 Japan Women's Open

Round: First Round (Round of 32)

Venue: Utsubo Tennis Center, Osaka, Japan Venue

Category: WTA 250

Surface: Hardcourt

Prize Money: $275,000

Live Telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Sky Sports | Canada - TSN

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Katie Volynets vs Clara Tauson preview

After a few withdrawals forced a rejig in the draw, Katie Volynets is pitted against Clara Tauson in the opening round of the 2024 Japan Women’s Open.

Volynets, who is now the ninth seed after Leylah Fernandez’s withdrawal, comes into the tournament on a career-high ranking of No. 56. The American is in the midst of her breakthrough season, having lifted a WTA 125k title in Makarska and having reached two WTA 1000 third rounds.

The latest of her WTA 1000 runs came a few weeks ago when she beat Marta Kostyuk and Dalma Galfi before losing to Naomi Osaka at the China Open.

Tauson recently made the final at Hong Kong. (Source: Getty)

Tauson too has had success during the Asian swing, making the WTA 125 final in Hong Kong and pushing Jasmine Paolini to three sets in Beijing. Her other highlights of the season include another 125 final at Oeiras and a run to the French Open fourth round.

The big-hitting Dane had lost a tough three set battle to Volynets at the Thailand Open last month and will be keen on exacting revenge.

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Katie Volynets vs Clara Tauson head-to-head

The Thailand Open encounter is the only time that the duo have faced each other, so Volynets leads Tauson in their current head-to-head 1-0.

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Katie Volynets vs Clara Tauson odds

Player	Moneyline	Handicap Bet	Total Games
Katie Volynets
Clara Tauson

(Odds will be updated when available)

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Katie Volynets vs Clara Tauson prediction

Volynets is the ninth seed at the tournament. (Source: Getty)

The opening-round encounter will pit Clara Tauson’s big hitting against Katie Volynets’ all-court skills.

The Dane likes to go for broke on each ball and while that strategy works well on the quick hardcourt, it also makes for a high error count. She will need to be extra patient against someone like Volynets, who sends back a lot of balls.

The American has gotten a taste of big hitting in her recent matches against Kostyuk and Osaka, doing fairly well to use her opponent’s pace against them.

The match, however, could well be decided by the sort of mood that Tauson is in on the day. When playing at her best, the Dane can blow most opponents off the court. If she can play with some measured aggression, she should have enough firepower to come through.

Prediction - Clara Tauson to win in three sets