In the closing days of 2024, the United Cup presents a tantalizing WTA singles duel between Jasmine Paolini from Italy and Chloe Paquet from France on December 31st, promising a tantalizing contrast of ranking, style, and recent form. Given that Paolini is coming into this match with a lot of steam behind her, ranked WTA 4, while Paquet, WTA 123, looks to make amends for a heartbreaking loss, this match is set to be engrossing. Let's look at recent form, stats, and their head-to-head for what one could expect from this year-ending encounter.
Share your predictions in the comments below—who do you think will prevail in this intriguing United Cup showdown?
Claim Welcome BonusJasmine Paolini
The rise to WTA 4 has certainly earned Italy's Jasmine Paolini a place among the big shots. Compact in frame, relentless in baseline game-she is a player for precision and persistence. She is four for her last seven, further evidence of how well she can pull off wins when the chips are down.
The last time Paolini played, it was one of those emphatic ones, a commanding 6-1, 6-1 victory over Belinda Bencic. Although she never served an ace in that match, she bossed the points with an incredible 74% first-serve-in and converted 7 break points. Her return game, particularly winning 62% of first-serve returns, underlines her ability to neutralize even big servers.
What makes Paolini dangerous is how she can construct points patiently and capitalize on the weaknesses of her opponents. She will look to continue the consistent, aggressive shot-making against Paquet in order to impose her will.
Chloe Paquet
Chloe Paquet comes into this match as the underdog, but the French woman has shown in the past that she can punch above her weight. Ranked WTA 123, the form of two wins in her last seven matches is less than ideal for Paquet coming into the match. Her game can trouble opponents when her serve and forehand are firing.
Paquet was poor in her last outing, losing 3-6, 1-6 to Belinda Bencic. She had 4 aces in the match but converted just 1 break point and won only 42% of first-serve return points. Inefficient return has been a problem with her game.
Nevertheless, what arms Paquet is her ability to produce pace to push opponents back with her flat groundstrokes. The fact that she has beaten Paolini in the past could give her extra confidence to make things tricky for her opponent.
Expert Betting Tips
This is a battle of consistency against opportunism. The all-around game of Paolini, who can always dominate the baseline exchanges, makes her the favorite, but a powerful serve and flashes of brilliance give Paquet the tools to pull off the upset if she plays an inspired match.
The key for Paolini will be to maintain her return accuracy and capitalize on the weaker second serve of Paquet. In contrast, Paquet needs to raise her level of return game and take calculated risks to break the rhythm of Paolini.
- Paquet to serve 5+ aces: Despite her struggles, Paquet’s powerful serve could allow her to rack up several aces, especially if she takes risks on her first serve. (1xbet: 1.55 Odds)
- Jasmine Paolini to win in straight sets: Paolini’s recent form and all-around consistency give her the edge. Expect her to outlast Paquet in baseline rallies and convert her chances effectively. (Betway: 1.24 Odds)
- Break-point dominance from Paolini: With her ability to create opportunities on return, Paolini is likely to dominate in break-point scenarios, continuing her trend of converting at a high rate. Back Paolini to score Over 5.5 Breaks. (Bet365: 1.90 Odds)
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