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Match Details
Fixture: (1) Daria Kasatkina vs Qinwen Zheng.
Date: February 10, 2023.
Tournament: Abu Dhabi Open 2023.
Round: Quarterfinals.
Venue: Zayed Sports City International Tennis Centre, Abu Dhabi.
Category: WTA 500.
Surface: Outdoor Hardcourt.
Prize money: $780,637.
Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Amazon Prime Video.
Daria Kasatkina vs Qinwen Zheng preview
Top seed Daria Kasatkina will square off against rising star Qinwen Zheng in the quarterfinals of the Abu Dhabi Open 2023 on Friday.
Perched at a career-high world ranking of No. 8, Kasatkina lost her very first match of the season at the Adelaide International 1. The Russian, however, regrouped immediately afterwards at the Adelaide International 2.
With wins over Grand Slam champions Barbora Krejcikova and Petra Kvitova, she made it all the way to the final, where she was stopped by Belinda Bencic.
Unfortunately, inconsistency reared its ugly head once again for the 25-year-old. Kasatkina failed to provide any resistance against lower-ranked Varvara Gracheva before crashing out 6-1, 6-1 in the first round of the Australian Open.
She is in action this week for the first time since that shock defeat. Kasatkina didn't begin her Abu Dhabi campaign in the best possible way against Jil Teichmann on Thursday. However, the top seed found her footing as the match progressed, ultimately coming through 1-6, 6-0, 6-2.
All of 20, Qinwen Zheng has emerged as one of the brightest prospects on the women's tour. She has already made the second week of a Grand Slam once and the final of a WTA 500 tournament as well. Her exploits propelled the Chinese to a career-high 25th spot in the world rankings last October.
Now placed four rungs below, Zheng has compiled a 7-3 win-loss record for the year so far. Her first notable run of the season came at the Adelaide International 2, where she reached the Round of 16 from the qualifying rounds.
Although her Australian Open challenge ended in the second round, the youngster has rebounded well in Abu Dhabi. Following a 6-3, 6-3 win over Rebecca Marino, Zheng ousted fifth seed Jelena Ostapenko 7-6 (10), 6-1 to make her first quarterfinal of the year.
Daria Kasatkina vs Qinwen Zheng head-to-head
Kasatkina and Zheng have never squared off on the tour before. Hence, their head-to-head is currently tied at a 0-0 deadlock.
Daria Kasatkina vs Qinwen Zheng odds
(Odds will be updated once they are available)
Daria Kasatkina vs Qinwen Zheng prediction
Zheng's serve could make a real difference in this contest, having produced 20 aces in her last two matches. There has been no let-up in her intensity, as evident from the fact that she has won 89% and 74% of her first-serve points against Marino and Ostapenko, respectively.
Zheng likes to step into the baseline and take the ball early. Her explosive speed, power and flat groundstrokes have been highly effective on the Abu Dhabi hardcourts so far.
However, it might not be as easy against Kasatkina. The World No. 8 might be lacking in power, but is a great mover and likes to mix up her play with her touch and deception.
That said, the Russian's slow start against Teichmann doesn't bode well for her chances going forward. If she concedes an early advantage to Zheng, Kasatkina might not find a way back into the match.
Pick: Qinwen Zheng to win in three sets.
