Paolini in straight sets.
Ladies and gentlemen... or just gentlemen, if you all got roped into watching the women's singles while waiting for the real action. Kidding, of course. The China Open (Round of 32) matchup pitches Italian stallion, or should I say mare, Jasmine Paolini against Polish powerhouse Magda Linette. Interesting tidbit, Paolini is the 3rd seed while Linette sits at a rather sad 31, but seeding alone won't decide this match or my analysis would be shorter than my list of Facebook friends.
Looking over their past head to heads, each player has a notch on their racquet. Paolini and Linette have traded wins, making this a tricky analysis. But, dear betters, when they last met, Paolini jumped off the blocks faster than a $200 salami falling off a deli counter, sweeping Linette in two straight sets.
In terms of recent form, Paolini's been as sturdy as a pair of Italian leather boots, only falling to Muchová. Conversely, Linette seems to have flirted with inconsistency, losing to Jovic and Samsonova and Šrámková in straight sets. It seems she's been serving more double faults than my Aunt Mabel's double chocolate chip cookies at a diet convention.
I know, I know. Upsets can and do happen, especially in tennis where the difference between winning and losing can be just a single break of serve. However, in the grander scheme of things, it’s hard to ignore the powerhouse that Paolini has proven herself to be, making Linette's chance of taking this match slimmer than a greyhound after a trip to the barber.
Albert's Prediction: Paolini in straight sets.