The Wuhan Open continues this week as Daria Kasatkina faces Magda Linette while Aryna Sabalenka goes up against Yulia Putintseva in the round of 16. Damien Kayat previews.
2024 WTA Tour – WTA 1000
Wuhan Open
Optics Valley International Tennis Centre
Selected RO 16 matches – 10 October
Daria Kasatkina 9/20 | Magda Linette 17/10
Could this finally be Kasatkina’s week to shine on an elite stage? The Russian has had a truly schizophrenic campaign. She has played some dominant tennis at WTA 500 level, winning in Eastbourne and finishing runner-up in a further four events.
But she has underperformed on the biggest stages, failing to go beyond the 3rd round of any of the slams. She was 8-9 in WTA 1000 events leading into this week and you feel she needs a big result for some personal validation.
She did improve her 2024 WTA 1000 record to an even 9-9, overcoming Bernarda Pera in a surprisingly tight three-set match. Kasatkina won the first set but completely collapsed in the 2nd, visibly buckling under the pressure of expectation.
But she bounced back nicely, routing the American 6-1 in the 3rd. Kasatkina was particularly impressive on serve in the match, serving five aces and winning 73% of her first-serve points.
Speaking of not performing on the big stages, Pole Magda Linette was eliminated in the first round of each of this year’s Slams. The 32-year-old enjoyed some decent clay-court success, finishing runner-up at the Open de Rouen before claiming the Prague Open (beating Magdalena Frech in the first all-Polish final on the WTA Tour).
She reached the 4th round of a WTA 1000 event for only the 2nd time in her career at last week’s China Open (upsetting Jasmine Paolini in the process). And she has looked strong again this week, securing back-to-back WTA 1000 4th round appearances for the first time in her career.
She upset Liudmila Samsonova in their first-round clash before Tsurenko retired during the first set of their round of 32 meeting. Linette was formerly a defensive baseliner but has become far more aggressive under the guidance of coach Mark Gellard- which came to the fore during her semifinal run at last year’s Aussie Open.
She has sparked some controversy this week, earning the ire of the crowd after posting a silly joke related to the Covid virus. She will be using that negativity as fuel as she looks to reach a maiden WTA 1000 quarterfinal.
The Verdict: Kasatkina to win in three 31/10
These two are familiar foes, with Kasatkina holding a 4-2 edge over the Pole. Kasatkina has won their last three encounters in straight sets, easing past the Pole in Brisbane earlier this season. But Linette overturned a significant head-to-head deficit against Samsonova and could be more of a challenge this week.
Kasatkina wasn’t entirely convincing against Pera and this could go all the way. Still, I think the Russian’s variety should give her the edge in three.
Aryna Sabalenka 1/8 | Yulia Putintseva 48/10
I feel chuffed with myself for predicting Muchova would end Sabalenka’s 15-match winning streak last week. To be fair, Sabalenka has never looked entirely comfortable on those surfaces. This week is an entirely different proposition.
Sabalenka is the two-time defending champion, winning the event in the two years preceding the pandemic. She never looked at her fluid best in her opener against Katerina Siniakova, eventually outmuscling the Czech 6-4, 6-4.
She is now 50-12 for the season and will be looking for a strong showing this week as she goes in pursuit of that World No.1 ranking. The reigning Aussie and US Open champion is probably the most powerful ball-striker on the entire WTA Tour and certainly the best hardcourt player of this current generation (Osaka notwithstanding).
Yulia Putintseva has been a real under-the-radar success story this season. Her career had threatened to drift into obscurity these last few years. She didn’t go beyond the 2nd round of a WTA 1000 event last season and hadn’t reached a final in three years leading into this campaign.
But she has rediscovered her mongrel this year, showing the type of tenacity that saw her reach three Grand Slam quarterfinals in the early part of her career. She won her first title in three years in Birmingham. And this week will mark her 4th WTA 1000 round of 16 appearance of the season.
She reached back-to-back WTA 1000 quarterfinals in Miami and Madrid and has picked up some serious scalps this season, beating the trio of Swiatek, Zheng and Gauff.
This week she has improved to 37-20 for the season, easing past Zhang in her opener before a fiercely fought three-set win against the hard-hitting Donna Vekic. Putintseva is a feisty counterpuncher who will look to successfully redirect Sabalenka’s monstrous groundstrokes.
The Verdict: Sabalenka to win in three 33/10
Putintseva holds a rare head-to-head advantage over Sabalenka, beating the Belarusian in straight sets at the 2019 US Open. That was back when Sabalenka flattered to deceive on the Grand Slam stage. I do think this match could be tighter than many envision.
Putintseva got a nice dress rehearsal against the big-hitting Vekic and her sheer determination could frustrate a set out of the Belarusian. However, Sabalenka has that World No.1 ranking in her sights and I think she will eventually get the job done.
