Paula Badosa is competing at the 2024 Thailand Open in Hua Hin, and she's looking at a pretty tricky matchup against Diana Shnaider in the second round.
The Spanish player needs matches and, towards that end, signed up to play at the WTA 250 event in Hua Hin. She had a pretty decent experience in Australia but didn't play many matches, which players need any time they return from a long layoff.
Her first match in Thailand was tricky as she barely survived against a native player who had a pretty decent shot at winning the match. Badosa wasn't inches from a defeat, but she flirted with it for a while.
In the end, she won, which is why she set up a second-round clash with the young Russian, and she'll need to do much better against Shnaider. The Russian is a talented 19-year-old player on the verge of returning to the Top 100 in the WTA Rankings.
Head-to-head:
The last time she faced Badosa wasn't a very good time for her, but it was under unique circumstances. They played in Charleston, which is not a typical clay court and favours an attacking player like Badosa.
It was also at a time last year when the Spaniard was starting to find her best tennis. The final score was 6-1 6-3 for the former world no. 2, but that certainly won't happen this time around because she's far from her best.
Prediction:
Badosa not winning the match would be a surprise, though, as Shnaider is still very raw. We might see a battle, but in the end, Badosa should be able to win. She'll get better with every match she plays, and she'll find a good level eventually, and then she'll be one of the feared players again.
Prediction: Paula Badosa to win in three sets.
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