Aryna Sabalenka vs Qinwen Zheng Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA Wuhan Open

Prediction published on 12/10/2024, 08:33  by Daniel Ngulu | Modified on 12/10/2024 at 08:36 in Tennis Predictions

Top seed Aryna Sabalenka and fifth seed Qinwen Zheng will on Sunday meet in this year’s Wuhan Open final. For their fourth career meeting and the second as a championship match, we have the prediction.

Sabalenka is the two-time Wuhan defending champion. She has never lost in Wuhan and is on a 16-match winning streak, also coming here on a dominant record against Zheng.

The Belarussian has three wins in three against Zheng, all on hard courts with the last two taking place earlier this year. The six-time WTA 1000 champion won their more recent tie a month ago on her way to lifting the US Open.

To advance to this final, Sabalenka, who has claimed 53 wins this year, defeated Cori Gauff in three sets. The 26-year-old has claimed 14 of her 16 career tour titles on hard courts.

Qinwen Zheng will be eager to avoid a fourth successive loss to Sabalenka. This and the need to win her biggest accolade on home soil will spur her on.

Zheng has contested and won tour finals on home soil before but never a tournament of this magnitude. To progress to the final, on her Wuhan debut, the world number seven defeated compatriot Wang Xinyu.

She won in straight sets a historic battle, the first all-Chinese semi-final at WTA 1000 level. That improved her record to 44-15. Zheng is having a career year in 2024.

She has won at least 40 matches for the first time in her career which has seen her break into the WTA top 10. Her dominance has secured her two titles, among them gold at the Paris Olympics.

A win here will not see her move in the world ranking but she will solidify her spot also in the WTA Race.