Qinwen Zheng vs Jaqueline Cristian Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA Palermo Open

Prediction published on 18/07/2024, 19:11  by Daniel Ngulu | Modified on 18/07/2024 at 19:54 in Tennis Predictions

Top seed Qinwen Zheng will once again square off with seventh seed Jaqueline Cristian at the Palermo Ladies Open. The winner of this quarter-final clash will play Diane Parry or Chloe Paquet in the penultimate round. Here we take a look at both players’ records and offer a prediction for the match.

Zheng is the defending champion here after a triumphant run on her. She triumphed here on second appearance last year. That was her maiden tour triumph and set the tone for two more finals and another title in 2023.

The Chinese number one, is having a strong title defence. She has won her first two matches without losing a set. First to fall in straights was two-time champion Sara Errani and then Petra Martic by the loss of eight games. Zheng, who broke into the WTA top 10 following her run in Melbourne, has dropped to eighth in the live ranking.

Jaqueline Cristian defeated Zheng in the second round of this competition back in 2021. This saw her record her best result here, a quarter-final finish. Now the two meet yet again and Cristian will seek another win to set a new personal record here.

The Romanian has never lost in her two encounters with Zheng, which should have her confident of a victory. Both of their battles have coincidentally been on clay, a surface she excels on. Cristian has this season registered 14 of her 21 wins on clay.

The most recent of them was a 2-0 victory over former Palermo finalist Lucia Bronzetti. Progressing to this round has moved Cristian to 61st in the live ranking which is three places below her career high WTA position.