The opening five days at the China Open have provided no shortage of entertaining action. Now with the competition hotting up, the remaining players in the draw will battle for a place in the next round. But who will advance in Beijing?
China Open Day Five Predictions
Bianca Andreescu vs Elise Mertens
Head-to-head: Andreescu 1-0 Mertens
It has been another impressively consistent season from Elise Mertens, who played some fine tennis to dismiss Petra Martic in the first round for the loss of just five games. But victories against the very best in the game have been few and far between for the Belgian throughout her career and US Open champion Bianca Andreescu must surely now be counted in that number. The fifth seed was not at her very best in the first round, but did enough to beat Aliaksandra Sasnovich in three. Andreescu regularly seems to be able to find a way to win even when not at her best and battled past Mertens in such circumstances at the US Open last month. Expect a similar outcome in Beijing.
Prediction: Andreescu in 3
Embed from Getty Images
Jennifer Brady vs Madison Keys
Head-to-head: first meeting
Cincinnati champion Madison Keys made an excellent start to her China Open campaign, beating Karolina Muchova, the winner in Seoul a fortnight ago, in straight-sets 6-4 7-6. If she can maintain that level, she will surely have high hopes of going all the way in Beijing. But she may not have things all her own way up against her compatriot Jennifer Brady, who has already won three matches in the Chinese capital after coming through the qualifying. She deserves real credit for the composure she displayed in her 6-7 7-6 6-3 first-round victory over Amanda Anisimova. But if Keys is focused, it is hard to see Brady finding an answer for the 11th seed’s power.
Prediction: Keys in 2
Embed from Getty Images
Kiki Bertens vs Polona Hercog
Head-to-head: Hercog 1-0 Bertens
The Netherlands’ Kiki Bertens struggled on the European grass and North American hard courts over the summer, but she looks to have found some form in Asia. Handed an exceedingly tough draw at the China Open, the eighth seed edged out US Open quarterfinalist Donna Vekic in the first round, before stopping the charge of Ukrainian young gun Dayana Yastremska in the second. She has, for the most part, been striking the ball cleanly all week and appears to be in a good rhythm. Polona Hercog has scored two good wins herself, beating Julia Goerges and Angelique Kerber. But if Bertens has indeed rediscovered her touch, she should prove too strong for the Slovenian.
Prediction: Bertens in 3
Main photo:
Embed from Getty Images
