Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the WTA Beijing matches.
Mirra Andreeva (22) faces her first truly serious challenge in the quarter-finals of the Beijing tournament. The Russian player will go up against the reigning Olympic champion, Qinwen Zheng (7).
Mirra Andreeva
Regardless of the outcome of the upcoming match, Mirra Andreeva will reach the top 20 of the WTA world rankings for the first time next week. In the round of 16, she comfortably defeated Magda Linette (6:1, 6:3). However, Mirra might aim even higher. She already has four victories in 10 matches against top-10 players.
Qinwen Zheng
Qinwen Zheng is meticulous in selecting her tournaments, ensuring she does not waste her energy unnecessarily, and it pays off. Following Wimbledon, the Chinese player participated in four events. She won the Olympics and the Palermo tournament, and reached the quarter-finals of the US Open, where she only lost to eventual champion Aryna Sabalenka. During this period, Zheng has made a phenomenal leap, winning 19 of 21 matches, and climbing back to seventh in the rankings.
Mirra Andreeva vs Qinwen Zheng Prediction
Zheng is considered a slight favourite, but when it comes to Mirra, predicting the winner is difficult—her potential ceiling is unknown. Therefore, a bet on the number of sets seems valuable. Andreeva rarely loses in straight sets, and Zheng, playing in her home tournament, will fight to the very end.
