WTA China Open: Prediction, Tips and Odds

In the absence of defending WTA China Open champion Iga Swiatek, all eyes will be on Aryna Sabalenka as she bids to make it three titles on the spin following victories in Cincinnati and at the US Open.

Sabalenka has triumphed in her last 12 matches, dropping only one set in the process and she heads to Beijing as a strong favourite at 7/5 to maintain her winning run.

With world number four Elena Rybakina also a high-profile absentee, the Belarusian is sure to have her backers in the first of two consecutive 1000 Series tournaments at Beijing's National Tennis Center.

However, there is still plenty of depth to the 96-runner field, which features 15 of the top 20 players in the world rankings and there is each-way value to be found.

WTA China Open betting tips and predictions

Qinwen Zheng to win WTA China Open - 11/1

Zheng has had a remarkable season, which started with a runner-up effort at the Australian Open in January and peaked with her gold medal at the Olympic Games in Paris at the beginning of August.

Given Zheng is still only 21 years of age, the world number seven looks likely to contend for Grand Slam silverware in the seasons to come and she could be one of Sabalenka’s biggest dangers in Beijing.

Home-court advantage with strong support from the Chinese crowd should be a useful tool for Zheng, who won a title in Zhengzhou earlier this year.

As well as winning that tournament in China, Zheng was runner-up at the WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai and she continues to hold her form well having made the US Open quarter-final when last in action.

Aalso the early draw looks useful for Zheng. The closest seed in her section is an out-of-sorts Dayana Yastremska, while she has positive head-to-head records against both Daria Kasatkina and Jasmine Paolini, two likely opponents before the semi-final.

A potential last-four encounter with Sabalenka will be a difficult stepping stone as the Belarusian eased past Zheng 6-1 6-2 in the last eight of the US Open and leads their head-to-head 3-0.

But Sabalenka has had a busy schedule and, if she falters early on, then Zheng would be in a strong place to capitalise.

Even so, Zheng would have a better chance of reversing that form in what would be their first meeting on her own patch.

Emma Navarro to win WTA China Open - 20/1

Emma Navarro was a semi-finalist at the US Open, having made the quarter-final of the French equivalent and there is plenty to suggest that she could be close to securing the biggest victory of her career.

The 23-year-old has also made the semi-final of a WTA 1000 event in Canada this season and she has a game exceptionally well-suited to this quick surface.

Navarro’s only tournament win on the WTA Tour came at the Hobart International earlier in the season, but she has a draw that should ensure she enjoys another deep run in Beijing, where Diana Shnaider would be her toughest test before the quarter-final.

US Open runner-up Jessica Pegula could be waiting in the last eight, but she often struggles to back up a positive display, while fourth seed Gauff, a potential semi-final opponent, was beaten by Navarro at both Wimbledon and the US Open.

Paula Badosa to win WTA China Open - 28/1

Of those available at even bigger prices, a rejuvenated Paula Badosa has to be feared given that she claimed her first title in over two years in Washington in August.

She has since followed up with a semi-final run in Cincinnati and a quarter-final effort at the US Open.

The Spaniard is a former world number two and is starting to show some of that old sparkle, suggesting she could go close to emulating the achievements of compatriot Garbine Muguruza, who won this title in 2015.

Badosa avoids Sabalenka until the final and at 28/1 she shouldn’t be underestimated.

Read more tennis betting tips and predictions on site

WTA China Open odds

Aryna Sabalenka 7/5
Jessica Pegula 6/1
Coco Gauff 17/2
Qinwen Zheng 11/1
Karolina Muchova 16/1
Emma Navarro 20/1

View the full market and more odds for WTA China Open on site

Read WTA China Open how to watch, TV channel, head-to-head stats, team news and more on site

This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.