Daria Kasatkina vs Jessica Pegula Prediction & Betting Tips - Japan Open

Prediction published on 28/09/2023, 07:36  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 28/09/2023 at 18:30 in Tennis Predictions

Second seeded Jessica Pegula takes on sixth seed Daria Kasatkina for a place in the Toray Pan Pacific Open semi-final. The winner will face either fourth seeded Maria Sakkari or fifth seed Caroline Garcia in the last four. Pegula is ranked fourth in the world and can't climb any higher even if winning this outdoor hard court tournament in Tokyo. In the Live WTA Race, the American is in fifth place and could clinch her spot in the Tour Finals this year. Pegula won the WTA 1000 event held in Montreal last month. That was only her third singles title and the first in ten months. Since that win, Pegula has reached the last 16 in Cincinnati and the US open. This week, the 29-year-old has beaten unseeded Cristina Bucsa for the loss of only three games. Her only previous match against Kasatkina saw her win in straight sets two years ago but that was played on clay.

Daria Kasatkina is 13th in the latest rankings, five places below the career high eighth achieved last year. The Russian is 15th in the Live WTA Race and with little chance of making the Tour Finals. Like her opponent, Kasatkina is in her first quarter final since Montreal with two last 16s (both seeing her lose to Aryna Sabalenka) since then  A win here will take her into her first hard court semi-final since being the runner-up in the second Adelaide International tournament eight months ago. Kasatkina had a tough first round in Tokyo, having to come from a set down to beat Marta Kostyuk. It was easier in round two with a straight sets victory over qualifier Despina Papamichail. We go for Pegula to get the victory in this match.