Spanish superstar Paula Badosa takes on Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic in the first round (R64) of the 2024 Wuhan Open. Badosa has been in great form in the last few months, showcasing an exceptional brand of tennis during the North American hard court swing. The resurgence of Badosa has been a joy to watch for all tennis fans. She had a strong outing at the China Open as well. Can the Spaniard make a winning start to her campaign at the Wuhan Open?

Paula Badosa vs Ajla Tomljanovic: Preview

Paula Badosa started the season slowly this year. She struggled with injuries and lack of form in the early part of the season. However, she began the North American swing with a bang! Badosa won the title at the Citi Open, reached the semifinals in Cincinnati, and made another impressive run at the US Open. In New York, she was defeated by Emma Navarro in the quarterfinals with a score of 2-6, 5-7. Following that, in the Asian swing, she started her campaign on the front foot, reaching the semifinals of the China Open. Badosa will enter this contest after her defeat to Coco Gauff in Beijing by 6-4, 4-6, 2-6.

On the other hand, Ajla Tomljanovic has had a relatively quiet season so far. However, she managed to reach the final of the Birmingham Classic this year, where she was defeated in the finals by Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva with a score of 1-6, 6(8)-7. Nevertheless, Tomljanovic managed to get things back on track and is entering this tournament after securing a hard-fought victory against Denmark’s Clara Tauson in the final of the Hong Kong 125 Open.

Badosa vs Tomljanovic: Head-to-Head

Both players have faced each other quite a few times now. However, their last meeting was almost two years ago in Cincinnati. Currently, Paula Badosa leads the head-to-head scoreline against Ajla Tomljanovic by a 2-1 margin:

• 2022 Sydney R16: Badosa 6-3,6-4.
• 2022 Australian Open R128: Badosa 6-4,6-0.
• 2022 Cincinnati Masters R32: Tomljanovic 6(3)-7,6-0,6-2.

Prediction: Badosa to win in three sets

Clash of two in-form players! So, we’re expecting some fight in this match. However, Paula Badosa has played a better brand of tennis in the last few tournaments. Considering this factor and their current rankings, we’re keeping the Spaniard slightly ahead in this thrilling contest. Paula Badosa is currently ranked 15th in the world with a win-loss record of 34-17. In contrast, Tomljanovic is ranked 86th in the world with a win-loss record of just 9-15.

Now, looking at their playing styles, Paula Badosa is more of an aggressive baseliner. Her game centers around powerful serves and lethal groundstrokes. Badosa also possesses effective and reliable kick and slice serves that she often uses as second serves. However, she has a tendency to commit a high number of double faults, hitting 246 aces this season but also committing 281 double faults! This is something she needs to keep in check during this match. Apart from that, Paula Badosa has a solid defensive game. Her incredible movement on the court and stamina often give her an edge in long rallies. Badosa can also deceive her opponents with her effective drop shots.

Her opponent, Ajla Tomljanovic, is known for her smart, aggressive brand of tennis. She relies heavily on her solid serves and strong backhands to seal the deal in her matches. Her big serve often earns her free points during intense moments. However, high double-fault counts have also been a concern this season. So far, Tomljanovic has hit 73 aces but has committed 153 double faults. Considering overall factors and looking at their performances in the last few tournaments, we’re favoring Paula Badosa in this contest.