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We have a fascinating match-up in the quarter-finals in Ningbo on Friday as Beatriz Haddad Maia meets Paula Badosa in what is arguably the tie of the round
RANKING POINTS: WTA 500
START DATE/TIME: Friday 18th October, 2024, UK – not before 9:30am / US ET – not before 4:30am / US PT – not before 1:30am
VENUE: Yinzhou Tennis Center, Ningbo, China
SURFACE: Outdoor hard
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Sky Sports Tennis / US – Tennis Channel
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Sky Go / US – Tennis Channel
BEATRIZ HADDAD MAIA VS PAULA BADOSA PREDICTION
Beatriz Haddad Maia was handed a bye in the first round and then managed to overcome a valiant Katie Boulter 7-6 7-5 on Thursday in the round of 16. After winning the Korea Open a month ago, her form has dipped a little but as she showed that week, she is more than capable of going deep in these events.
She now meets in-form Paula Badosa who has returned to action after pulling out of the Wuhan Open due to illness. That came after she was pictured making inappropriate gestures in an image posted by her coach and she subsequently apologised for any offence that may have caused. Whether it was illness or embarrassment around that, she may well have benefitted from that rest and it shows in her play.
She has looked good in her two matches so far beating two tough opponents over three sets. First, she beat the ever-difficult Diana Shnaider and then she beat Xiyu Wang after coming from a set down for the second consecutive match.
Badosa may be seeded at eight compared to Haddad Maia’s six, but it is Badosa who is the one to beat here. She is playing some strong tennis and while there is room for improvement in her performances, expect her to start quicker and get the win here.
BEATRIZ HADDAD MAIA VS PAULA BADOSA TIP: PAULA BADOSA TO WIN