Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the WTA Berlin match.
Naomi Osaka and Liudmila Samsonova are set to face off in the round of 16 at the WTA Berlin tournament, marking their second meeting this season. Three months ago, Naomi Osaka comfortably defeated Liudmila Samsonova on the hard courts in Miami, winning 6:2, 6:4. However, grass brings a more unpredictable element to the match-up.
Naomi Osaka
Naomi Osaka should not be written off based solely on her early elimination at Roland Garros. In the first round, she took on world No. 10 Paula Badosa and managed to claim the opening set 7:6. It's also worth highlighting that Naomi Osaka had a respectable showing on grass last year, winning three of her six matches and suffering just one straight-sets defeat.
Liudmila Samsonova
Liudmila Samsonova made a poor start to her grass-court campaign. In 's-Hertogenbosch, she was eliminated in the opening round by world No. 196 Carson Branstine (4:6, 7:5, 1:6). Liudmila Samsonova struggled significantly on serve, producing only five aces and converting just 36% of her break points, compared to 75% for her opponent. She now faces a markedly more challenging opponent.
Naomi Osaka vs Liudmila Samsonova Prediction
Although Liudmila Samsonova enters as a slight favourite, her current form is a major concern. With Naomi Osaka coming into the match fresh after an early elimination from Roland Garros, she looks well-placed to at the very least make this a closely fought contest.
