Italian Open 2024: Naomi Osaka vs Qinwen Zheng preview, head-to-head, prediction, live streaming details

This will be the second meeting between both players.

Qinwen Zheng triumphed over Linda Noskova with scores of 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 in the third round of the Italian Open 2024 on Saturday. In the next round, Zheng is set to face Naomi Osaka.

Zheng ousted Noskova in a match lasting 1 hour and 48 minutes, securing her spot in the fourth round of the tournament. Meanwhile, Osaka, the Japanese tennis star, overcame Russia’s Daria Kasatkina in the Round of 32, winning in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3. So far in the tournament, Qinwen has lost just one set, while Osaka has been formidable winning all her sets.

Osaka, a two-time Australian Open champion, had a less-than-ideal return to tennis, being eliminated in the first round of AO24 by Caroline Garcia.

Naomi Osaka vs Qinwen Zheng match details

Date: May 13, Monday

Time: TBD

Venue: Foro Italico, Rome

Naomi Osaka vs Qinwen Zheng preview

Naomi Osaka appeared comfortable in the opening round of the 2024 Italian Open, decisively defeating the 46th-ranked Clara Burel 7-6 (2), 6-1 on Wednesday. This victory marked the Japanese tennis player’s first win over a top 50 opponent on clay since her triumph over Victoria Azarenka at the 2019 French Open.

Returning from maternity leave, the 173rd-ranked Osaka overcame the 20th-ranked Marta Kostyuk 6-3, 6-2 in the second round. This marked her first consecutive wins on clay since 2019. Subsequently, the four-time Grand Slam champion secured a victory over Daria Kasatkina in the third round in Rome.

Osaka outmaneuvered the 10th seed Kasatkina 6-3, 6-3 to advance to the Round of 16. This achievement marks the second time in her career that she has reached this stage at the Rome event.

The seventh seed Zheng Qinwen recovered from a set down to defeat the 29th seed Linda Noskova in the third round of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia. Zheng began her campaign by showcasing her dominance against the American player Shelby Rogers in a one-sided match, winning 6-2, 6-0.

Zheng’s highlight this season was reaching the Australian Open final. She claimed victories over Ashlyn Krueger, Katie Boulter, her compatriot Wang Yafan and Océane Dodin in a swift 59-minute match.

Zheng proceeded to defeat Anna Kalinskaya in the quarter-finals. Despite her impressive performance at the Rod Laver Arena, she was defeated by Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2.

Head-to-Head

Matches – 1

Naomi Osaka – 1

Qinwen Zheng – 0

This would be the second time that both tennis players would lock horns. Japan’s Osaka leads the H2H record by 1-0.   

Where and how to watch live streaming and TV broadcast of Naomi Osaka vs Qinwen Zheng Italian Open 2024, round of 16 match in India?

Unfortunately, there won’t be a live telecast of the WTA 1000 matches in India. However, fans can catch the live action of this clash on Tennis TV as well as on WTA TV.

Prediction

Naomi Osaka defeated Zheng Qinwen in their previous encounter at San Jose in 2022, but much has changed since then for the Chinese sensation. She is now in the top 10 of the WTA Rankings and reached her first major final in January at the Australian Open.

An intense showdown is anticipated in Rome when two Asian powerhouses face-off. In her last 10 matches, Osaka has emerged victorious in seven, while Zheng has a 50% win rate in her last 10 encounters.

Over the past year, the Chinese player has competed in 55 matches, boasting 37 wins and 18 losses. Her win-loss record stands at 67.3% for the year.

Conversely, Osaka has played 20 matches over the year and won 60% of them. Recently, Osaka has won 51.77% of points on her second serve, compared to Zheng’s 55.96%.

Osaka has performed better under pressure, saving 61.68% of breakpoints recently, while Zheng has saved 56.94%.

Result: Osaka to win in three sets.

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