Jasmine Paolini, recently celebrated for her key role in Italy’s successful title defense at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals, is now set to embark on an individual campaign at the China Open in Beijing. Paolini will face off against Anastasija Sevastova, who posed a challenge to her at Wimbledon earlier this year by taking the first set before Paolini staged a comeback. Their head-to-head record stands at 3-0 in Paolini’s favor, giving her a psychological edge heading into this encounter.
Turning to the other matches, Veronika Kudermetova is set to meet Anna Bondar. Kudermetova, who reached the semifinals in Cincinnati, has struggled with consistency recently. Bondar, with three wins under her belt in Beijing already, could capitalize on this and potentially cause an upset.
Belinda Bencic is also in action, facing Katie Volynets. Bencic, who has been gradually returning to form after a break for maternity leave, aims for a strong performance in Beijing where she has not been since 2019. Despite Volynets having a good week so far, Bencic’s past prowess and strategic gameplay might give her the upper hand.
Another intriguing matchup features Barbora Krejcikova against Ekaterina Alexandrova. These two have a closely contested rivalry, with Alexandrova leading 3-2. Both players recently lost to Iga Swiatek but displayed commendable performances. Alexandrova, enjoying possibly the best form of her career, may have the slight advantage given her current momentum.
As the tournament unfolds, it is clear that these matchups bring both challenges and opportunities for the players seeking victory. With established talents like Paolini, Bencic, and Krejcikova competing, spectators can anticipate a series of captivating contests on the courts of Beijing.