Paula Badosa Faces Diana Shnaider in Ningbo Open First Round: Preview and Predictions

Paula Badosa, the 15th-ranked tennis player in the world, is set to face Diana Shnaider in the first round of the 2024 Ningbo Open on Monday, October 14. This match will be the sixth encounter between the two players, with Badosa currently leading their head-to-head 3-2. However, Shnaider has a 1-0 advantage over Badosa on hard courts, having won their last match in Bad Homburg in June 2024 with a score of 6-3, 7-6(3).

Badosa, who was born in New York City but often trains in Barcelona, comes into this tournament after a strong performance in Beijing, where she lost to Coco Gauff in the semifinals. She has a 34-17 win-loss record in 2024, with 23 of those wins coming on hard courts. Her best result this year was winning the title in Washington, where she defeated Marie Bouzkova in the final.

Diana Shnaider, ranked 16th in the world, has also had a successful year, with a 49-21 win-loss record and 25 wins on hard courts. She has won multiple titles this year, including in Hua Hin, Paris, Bad Homburg, and Budapest. Shnaider’s last match was in Wuhan, where she lost to Annie in the first round.

The odds favor Badosa to win the match, with odds of -210 compared to Shnaider’s +160. Badosa has a strong record on hard courts, winning 74.9% of her service games and 38.0% of her return games. However, Shnaider’s recent form and her ability to win on hard courts make her a formidable opponent.

The match is scheduled to take place on Center Court at 8:00 pm local time and will be available for live streaming through various platforms, including bet365 for users with a funded account or those who have placed a bet in the last 24 hours.