Zhuoxuan Bai - Veronika Kudermetova predictions and free betting tips [11/06/2024]

In 's-Hertogenbosch, rain has caused delays, giving those yet to play their opening matches some extra time. Veronika Kudermetova will kick off her tournament against Zhuoxuan Bai. The players differ in skill level and playing style, but we’ll see how well the Russian has adapted to grass and if she can bounce back from her numerous clay-court disappointments.

Zhuoxuan Bai

The Futures circuit aligns well with Zhuoxuan Bai's skill level. Nonetheless, the Chinese player is determined to overcome the ITF circuit's challenges to define her game for top-tier tournaments. Her arrival in 's-Hertogenbosch is a calculated move, balancing her schedule between Futures and the main tournaments, where she must prove herself.

Last year, Zhuoxuan Bai won four ITF titles, all on hard courts, a surface suited to her flat-hitting playing style commonly seen among Asian players. Notably, she can perform well on grass too. Bai went through the qualifiers and reached the second round of Wimbledon last year, only to be defeated by Ons Jabeur with a crushing score (1:6, 1:6). Still, she demonstrated her determination to move beyond ITF events, and her work this season suggests she is striving to improve her skills.

Although Bai has yet to achieve notable results this year, she isn’t stuck in Futures tournaments; instead, she aims to compete in more challenging events. In her match against Veronika Kudermetova, Bai must remain defensively solid, avoid losing ground during rallies, and, technique-wise, she could match the Russian if she avoids playing erratically.

Veronika Kudermetova

Kudermetova’s playing style is standard and well-suited to hard and grass courts. However, the Russian has also achieved respectable results on clay, a surface generally considered unfavourable for her technique.

Last year, Kudermetova excelled at two clay-court Masters tournaments in Madrid and Rome, reaching the semi-finals but losing to Iga Świątek in Spain and Angelina Kalinina in Italy. At Roland Garros, she faced an early exit, falling to Anna-Karolína Schmiedlová in the first round. Before the clay season, Kudermetova had a stint on hard courts, once again reaching the semi-finals but having to withdraw from the Adelaide(2) tournament to prepare for Melbourne. In Qatar, Iga Świątek outperformed her. On grass, specifically in 's-Hertogenbosch, Kudermetova reached the final, losing to Ekaterina Alexandrova in a Russian showdown decided by a third-set tiebreak. Kudermetova claimed the Tokyo(500) title last season, defeating a diverse field, including Świątek, and ultimately surpassing Jessica Pegula in the final match for the trophy.

This year has been unremarkable for Kudermetova, as her game has not been consistently strong. However, she can still perform well in any tournament if adequately prepared, particularly mentally. The match against Zhuoxuan Bai should not pose significant challenges for Kudermetova, given her higher skill level. Yet, readiness is crucial, and it is always difficult to predict the outcome of a first-round match. Nevertheless, Kudermetova’s advantage, especially in serving, should play a crucial role in her favour.

Match Prediction: Zhuoxuan Bai vs Veronika Kudermetova

Kudermetova should win within the handicap of (-4.5) games if she came to 's-Hertogenbosch aiming for the title. Zhuoxuan Bai is an interesting player, but her potential is lower than Kudermetova's skill level. This straightforward bet will showcase Kudermetova's readiness for this match.