Carol Zhao vs Petra Martić Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA Monterrey Open

Prediction published on 19/08/2024, 08:50  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 19/08/2024 at 09:17 in Tennis Predictions

Unseeded Petra Martic takes on qualifier Carol Zhao in round one of the hard court Monterrey Open. The winner of this match will be up against either seventh seed Yuan Yue or qualifier Aleksandra Kunic. Here's our match prediction.

Martic is 98th in the latest rankings but has dropped to 105th in the live list. This is her first match since losing to Cristina Bucsa in round one of the Paris Olympics tournament. That was played on a clay court though.

The Croatian has struggled for consistency this year with her best hard court performance being a quarter-final in Auckland at the start of 2024. That explains why she's only 91st in the WTA Live Race which is based on points earned this year.

Carol Zhao is the world number 264 and the Canadian had to come through the qualifiers to reach this main draw. Zhao managed to do that but ran into trouble in her final qualifier. That was against Amandine Hesse who was seeded two places above her.

Hesse took the first set but Zhao battled back to win the next two for the loss of seven games. That took her into the main draw of an ATP Tour event for the first time in 2024. Most of her time has been spent on the ITF Circuit where three quarter-finals have been reached.

Zhao hasn't beaten a top 100 ranked player this year. We tip Martic to win this match in straight sets.