Lin Zhu vs Ashlyn Krueger Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA Japan Open

Prediction published on 16/09/2023, 06:13  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 16/09/2023 at 07:14 in Tennis Predictions

Top seed Lin Zhu is up against unseeded Ashlyn Krueger in the hard court Japan Women's Open final. Lin Zhu began this week ranked 35th but this run to the final in Osaka has seen her climb to 31st and that's a new career high. Winning this final will take her up to 30th and boost her hopes of being seeded at the Australian Open. The Chinese player has already won one hard court title this year, being successful in the Thailand Open. Her recent form has been strong with a semi-final in Cleveland and reaching the last 32 of the US Open beating two players ranked above her. In Osaka, the top seed has only dropped one set on her way to this final. That was in the second round when losing the middle set to Moyuka Uchijima. 

19-year-old Ashlyn Kreuger has had a great run in this tournament. The week began with the American teenager ranked 123rd in the world and was 183rd at the start of the year. A new career high has been set as Krueger is now up to 92nd. Winning this title could see her rise to as high as 73rd. The American had lost her last three matches before heading to Japan. Her successes this year have come on the ITF circuit and a WTA 125 title in June but that was on grass. This week has seen her get to the final without dropping a set. The only seeded player she's faced has been the eighth seed Kateryna Baindi  (ranked 84th) who Krueger beat in the first round. This is her toughest task of the week and we go for the top seed to win this match.