With tournaments approaching thick and fast, there is hardly any breathing space left for the players. Additionally, the schedule is further congested by the ongoing Paris Olympic Games, where top players across the globe are in action. Amid this, there are also some important tournaments underway on the tennis tour. One among them is the Citi Open where Paula Badosa is making a comeback from an injury.

The Spaniard has had an eventful year on and off the court. She will be looking for some consistency as she begins her preparations for the US Open. However, Badosa will have a stern challenge ahead of her as she takes on the local favorite, Sofia Kenin, in the opening round.

Paula Badosa vs Sofia Kenin: Preview

Badosa’s 2024 season has been marred by injuries and inconsistent form. While she played in the Australian Open and the French Open, the Spanish beauty missed the Wimbledon Championships due to an injury. With poor form this year, Badosa’s best performance has just been a last-eight finish at the Bad Homburg Open.

At the Citi Open, the Spanish star is playing in both singles as well as doubles, where she has already won the opening round contest with partner Ons Jabeur. Badosa will look to carry the momentum from that match as she steps onto the court against Kenin.

On the other hand, Kenin has gone off completely silent ever since winning her maiden Grand Slam title at the 2020 Australian Open. She has had an on-and-off career since, due to poor form and fitness. Further, Kenin has found greater success in doubles, winning the Miami Open title. Kenin will look to take some cues from there as she aims to dig deep in the tournament.

Badosa vs Kenin: Head-to-Head

Both Badosa and Kenin are long-term players and have been here for years. Despite this fact, the two are yet to face off against each other on the WTA Tour. Their clash later today will be the first time Badosa and Kenin will come up against each other.

While it may be their first meeting, Badosa is focused on winning more points and improving her ranking. Thus, she picked the US Open over the Olympics as the preparations for the hard-court events are underway. A confident-looking Badosa can beat any player on her day and Kenin will have a difficult challenge against her.

Prediction: Easy win for Paula Badosa

On one hand, Badosa is going all out for her preparations for the upcoming US Open. On the other, Kenin is awaiting to battle the Badosa storm. All-in-all, it promises to be a thrilling tennis match with Badosa predicted to win the encounter in straight sets. Can Kenin upset Badosa in the first-round encounter of the Citi Open? Let us know your views in the comments below.