Naomi Osaka vs Belinda Bencic Prediction & Betting Tips - US Open, New York, USA

Prediction published on 01/09/2019, 13:29  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 01/09/2019 at 14:30 in Tennis Predictions

Naomi Osaka is the defending US Open champion and ranked number one in the world. It's not been the most consistent of years for the Japanese player but she has impressed this week in New York. Osaka only lost three games when beating 15-year-old Coco Gauff on Saturday evening. She won friends aplenty for the way she spoke to her tearful teenage opponent after the match and then ended up crying herself. No hankies will be needed hopefully in this last sixteen clash with Belinda Bencic. Osaka began the year by winning the Australian Open title, her second straight Grand Slam win. She hasn't been so successful in the following two Grand Slam events losing in the third round in Paris and first round at Wimbledon. Every time in her career, she has made it past the last sixteen, Osaka has gone on to win the title! 

Belinda Bencic is the 13th seed and has only had to play two matches to reach the last sixteen. She had to go to three sets to get past Alize Cornet in the second round and then had a walkover in the third. That's because her scheduled opponent Anett Kontaveit pulled out injured. That at least stopped a run for Bencic that has seen her beaten in the third round of the three Grand Slam events held this year. Bencic has only ever reached one Grand Slam quarter final and that was here five years ago. She has a good record against her opponent having won their last three meetings. The last two were earlier this year when Osaka wasn't in the best of form. Now it's changed for the better and Osaka can win this last sixteen tie.