Wuhan Open 2024 Day 3: Women's singles predictions ft. Jasmine Paolini vs Yue Yuan

The final WTA 1000 event of the year in Wuhan delivered some thrilling tennis in its opening couple of days of play. Plenty of big names were shown the door, most notably 11th and 12th seeds Liudmila Samsonova and Diana Shnaider.

Madison Keys, Katie Boulter, Dayana Yastremska, Sofia Kenin, and Zhang Shuai also suffered disappointing exits. Seeds, Mirra Andreeva, Donna Vekic, and Marta Kostyuk, on the contrary, secured their spots in the second round.

With second-round action in store for day three, fans, for the first time, will get a glimpse of the top seeds Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula. Home favorite and fifth seed Zheng Qinwen will also take center stage. Other prominent players in action include Jasmine Paolini, Coco Gauff, and Emma Navarro.

As the competition heats up, here are a few predictions for the women’s singles matches on Day 3 in Wuhan.

#3 Xinyu Wang vs Lucia Bronzetti

Xinyu Wang in action at the 2024 China Open (Picture: Getty)

Home favorite Xinyu Wang will face Lucia Bronzetti in the third round of the 2024 Wuhan Open on Wednesday, October 9. The match is scheduled to take place third on Court 1, following the clash between Emma Navarro and Magdalena Frech.

Wang entered the event with a 24-22 match record for the year, with her standout performance being a semifinal run in Hua Hin. She also made waves at Wimbledon, defeating Jessica Pegula on her way to the fourth round. Wang began her Wuhan campaign in commanding fashion, defeating Caroline Dolehide 6-4, 6-0 in the first round.

Bronzetti comes into Wuhan with a 23-28 record, with her best result being a semifinal finish at the Jasmin Open. She also reached the quarterfinal in Morocco earlier this year. Bronzetti advanced to the main draw through qualifying, where she defeated Ma YeXin and Camila Osorio. She continued her strong form in the first round, beating an in-form Ajla Tomljanovic 6-1, 7-6(2).

Both players are evenly matched in terms of their records this season. Wang, however, might have the edge if she continues her strong baseline play and serving form, especially with the support of the home crowd behind her.

Pick: Wang in three sets.

#2 Beatriz Haddad Maia vs Veronika Kudermetova

Beatriz Haddad Maia in action at the 2024 China Open (Picture: Getty)

Ninth seed Beatriz Haddad Maia will face Veronika Kudermetova in a highly-anticipated second-round clash. They will be up third on Court 2, following the encounter between Anna Kalinskaya and Ekaterina Alexandrova.

Haddad Maia entered Wuhan with a solid 32-23 match record for the year, highlighted by a recent title win at the Korea Open. She began her Wuhan campaign with a hard-fought 7-6(7), 6-2 victory over Madison Keys, avenging her loss to the American from Beijing last week.

Kudermetova, on the other hand, has had a quieter season with a 17-22 record heading into Wuhan. Her best result was a semifinal finish at the Korea Open. She started strong in Wuhan, earning a solid 6-4, 7-6(4) win over Marie Bouzkova in the first round.

Both players faced tough opening matches, each surviving a tie-break, displaying incredible mental fortitude. While Haddad Maia appears stronger on paper, the slower courts in Wuhan may favor Kudermetova’s playing style, setting the stage for a thrilling contest.

It will be the third meeting between the pair, with Kudermtova currently edging it 2-1. Haddad Maia, however, won their most recent encounter at the Korea Open a couple of weeks ago.

Pick: Kudermetova in three sets.

#1 Jasmine Paolini vs Yue Yuan

Jasmine Paolini in action at the 2024 China Open (Picture: Getty)

Third seed Jasmine Paolini will face home favorite Yue Yuan in the final match of the day on Center Court at the 2024 Wuhan Open, following Zheng Qinwen's clash with Jaqueline Cristian.

Paolini enters Wuhan with an impressive 35-16 match record for the season, highlighted by a title in Dubai. She also reached the finals at both the French Open and Wimbledon and won Gold in the women’s doubles event at the Olympics.

Yuan, on the other hand, arrived in Wuhan with a 25-22 record, having claimed her sole title at the ATX Open, where she defeated compatriot Xiyu Wang in the final. She opened her Wuhan campaign with a strong comeback win, defeating Clara Burel 1-6, 6-4, 6-2 in the first round.

Paolini, with her superior season performance, especially at WTA 1000 events, is the clear favorite. However, Yuan has been more effective on hardcourts recently, and the conditions in Wuhan, coupled with strong home support, could make this an intriguing contest. Despite the potential challenge, Paolini is expected to advance.

Pick: Paolini in straight sets.