Paula Badosa and Daria Kasatkina meet again in Beijing weeks after their rain-interrupted first-round match at the US Open, which Badosa won after returning the next day. The two have played often and the head-to-head is tight, so expect another close contest.
Badosa has the cleaner weapons on a fast hard court. Her forehand and flat backhand can end points early when she is timing the ball, and she has recent match play behind her. Kasatkina relies on spin, variety and court craft, but her recent results have been uneven.
The concern for Badosa is consistency. Her error count can rise quickly when Kasatkina slows the pace, and long rallies favor the Russian's patience. If Badosa keeps her first serve percentage up and stays aggressive, she should take control.
Kasatkina's form is the deciding factor in this pick. A player struggling for confidence rarely holds up over three sets against a power hitter who beat her weeks earlier.
Prediction: Badosa to win in three sets. Confidence: medium.