Japanese superstar, Naomi Osaka is all set to face the young American from California, Katie Volynets, in the Round of 32 at the 2024 China Open. Volynets has never competed in this tournament before, while Osaka won it in 2019. Both players have won their previous two matches, with the American looking impressive in her last two performances. However, Osaka faced a tough challenge against Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva in her second match. Can the Japanese star deliver a more dominant performance against Volynets in their next match?

Naomi Osaka vs Katie Volynets: Preview

Naomi Osaka’s best performances this season have come at the Qatar Open and ‘s-Hertogenbosch, where she reached the quarterfinals. Other than that, there haven’t been many noteworthy results for the Japanese superstar this season. She defeated Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti in her first match of this tournament, and in the second, she secured a stellar comeback victory against Putintseva. Osaka won the match 3-6, 6-4, 6-2, marking her first successful comeback in over two years. It’s also the first time Osaka has won back-to-back matches since June of this year.

Katie Volynets started her season impressively by reaching the semifinals at Canberra International. She later reached the quarterfinals of the Thailand Open and won the WTA 125K Makarska tournament in Croatia, defeating Egypt’s Mayar Sherif. Here in Beijing, she won her first match against Hungary’s Dalma Galfi 7-5, 6-1, and then outclassed Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk with another comprehensive victory. What will the scoreline be in her next match?

Osaka vs Volynets: Head-to-Head

These two players have never faced each other in their careers, making this an equally challenging match for both of them. However, Osaka has the experience of bringing her A-game to this tournament, which could play a major role in determining the outcome of this intriguing clash against the 22-year-old American.

Prediction: Osaka to win in three sets

With her victory over Yulia Putintseva, Naomi Osaka has extended her winning streak at the China Open to eight matches. This is her first tournament with her new coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, and so far, the partnership appears to be working. Osaka is currently ranked 73rd in the women’s singles rankings with a win-loss record of 20-16. It will be interesting to see if Mouratoglou can help her claim her first title of the 2024 season. Her opponent, Katie Volynets, ranked 60th, has a win-loss record of 13-14.

So, looking at their current form and their experiences of playing at this tournament, Osaka looks to be the favorite in this match. Now, if we take a look at their playing styles, Volynets is more of a quick-footed counterpuncher who can change the pace of the game quite effectively during her matches. She’s a good striker of the ball. Although she’s not a big hitter, Volynets is a smart player who mixes up her game well, causing trouble for her opponents. She relies mainly on spin and her athleticism.

On the other hand, Naomi Osaka is an aggressive baseline player. Her incredible raw power, especially on her serve and forehand, makes her game look lethal. She uses her power to hit a high number of winners. So far this season, Osaka has hit 214 aces and committed just 91 double faults. Additionally, Osaka’s ability to win long rallies has been a key factor in her success. After facing a tough challenge in her previous match, we expect another competitive fight in this one. However, in terms of the outcome, we believe Osaka will once again pull through and advance to the next round.