After what has been a thrilling week of tennis so far at the China Open, just two women remain in contention for the title: world #1 Ashleigh Barty and fourth seed Naomi Osaka. Both will surely be desperate to lay their hands on the title and fans in Beijing should be in for an enthralling encounter. But who will come out on top?
China Open Final Prediction
Ashleigh Barty vs Naomi Osaka
Head-to-head: Barty 2-1 Osaka
This will be the third meeting between Barty and Osaka. Their first came five years ago in Acapulco with Barty claiming a comprehensive 6-2 6-4 win. Four years later in 2018, Osaka avenged that defeat with an equally commanding 6-4 6-2 win in the third round at Barty’s home Slam the Australian Open. But in their most recent clash, which also came last season, in Eastbourne, it was Barty who came out on top, picking up a 6-3 6-4 win in the semifinals.
Barty opened her China Open campaign, after a first-round bye, with a dominant 6-4 6-2 win over Yulia Putintseva. But she was given a rather sterner test by Zheng Saisai in the third round before emerging a 6-3 6-7 6-2 winner. She was taken the distance again in the quarterfinals up against Petra Kvitova, but rallied past the Czech to win 4-6 6-4 6-3. Barty then edged out Kiki Bertens 6-3 3-6 7-6, saving match point in the process, to reach her first final since the Birmingham Classic in June.
Osaka, meanwhile, continued the fine run of form she had started at the Japan Women’s Open, where she won the title without dropping a set, to beat Jessica Pegula 6-3 7-6. She then dismissed Andrea Petkovic 6-0 6-2 and Wuhan finalist Alison Riske 6-4 6-0 to reach the quarterfinals. There, Osaka battled past US Open champion Bianca Andreescu in an instant classic to end the Canadian’s 17-match winning streak. In the last four, Caroline Wozniacki offered only sporadic resistance as Osaka advanced a 6-4 6-2 winner.
All week at the China Open, Barty has used her guile and court-craft to great effect to see off more powerful opponents. She has also served well. And up against the red-hot Osaka she will need to do just that again. But even that may not be enough. When every part of Osaka’s game is firing, as it has been in recent weeks, the Japanese is almost unplayable. She has formidable power and the intelligence to know when to use it. Barty will not allow her to have things all her own way, but Osaka should have enough to come out on top in this one.
Prediction: Osaka in 3
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