Paolini in straight sets.
Pull up a lawn chair and grab a bucket of popcorn, we've got an interesting match on our hands. An enticing clash between the Italian Jasmine Paolini, seeded number 3 in this tournament, and the unseeded dynamo Clara Tauson. Paolini might be fancying her chances, considering the tournament seedings and her recent form.
Now, if we're talking form, Tauson's track record doesn't exactly send shivers down your spine. Some might even call it shaky, like a one-legged pigeon. In the recent five matches, she has emerged victorious just twice. Compare that to our Italian ace, Paolini here, with three victories under her belt in the same number of games.
But you know what they say, tennis is a funny old game, full of unexpected twists and turns. Or maybe that's me before my morning coffee. It's hard to tell.
Paolini's recent performances, especially against Andreescu B. and Plíšková Ka., add fuel to her burning determination. Being an underdog does not equate to a definite loss. However, in this case, Tauson is going to need more than a game up her sleeve to trump Paolini's fiery form.
Amid such a grand stage as the China Open, a player's seed rating and recent form factor majorly into the equation. But equations and math give me a headache so, I'll just oblige with the bookie's wisdom on this one.
Albert's Prediction: Paolini in straight sets.