Tennis News: Tokyo Open Day 4 Predictions and Tips

Meanwhile, Veronika Kudermetova will face Fernanda Contreras Gomez in round two. So who will advance to the quarterfinals? Let's take a look at the predictions for both matches!

Beatriz Haddad Maia vs Naomi Osaka preview

World number 16 Beatriz Haddad Maia will compete against four-time Grand Slam titlist Naomi Osaka in the second round of the 2022 Pan Pacific Open on Thursday. 

Haddad Maia faced Yuki Naito in the first round, and the Japanese challenged her by saving three break points to hold her serve. Following that, she fended off another break point. 

However, she conceded the seventh game and trailed 4-3. Haddad Maia took advantage of the serve break and later won the set. She took a 5-1 lead in the second set before serving for the match, thereby winning it 6-4, 6-2. 

Meanwhile, Osaka has hit a rough patch in her career, returning to Tokyo, bringing along a four-match losing streak. She started her bid against Daria Saville in the first round.

Osaka held her serve at the beginning of the match, followed by Saville's effort to pressurise her opponent. However, she twisted her knee, causing a halt in the game. 

Despite being able to walk around, she quit the match due to her long history of injury issues. Therefore, it is now tough to know the challenge Osaka brings against Haddad Maia.

Haddad Maia has scored impressive wins over world number one Iga Swiatek, Simona Halep, and Petra Kvitova this year. Her confidence and control at the net give her the upper hand. 

The same cannot be said for Osaka, who can only challenge her opponent with her brilliant serve - a skill that earns her free points. Even her service, as of late, has dipped in quality. 

She could only secure 23% of her second-serve points during the first-round loss at the US Open, which speaks volumes about her form. 

So Haddad Maia is the more in-form player, as she has been more impressive than Osaka this season. The Japanese star will still try to win over her home crowd and stave off challenges. 

Prediction: Naomi Osaka has a fair chance of winning in three sets.

Veronika Kudermetova vs Fernanda Contreras Gomez preview

The upcoming match between Kudermetova and Gomez will mark their first meeting in tennis. Gomez is enjoying the best results of her career after pulling through the qualifying rounds and beating Sofia Kenin in the opening round of the main draw. 

The fourth-seeded Kudermetova might end put an end to her opponent's campaign. However, if the Russian fails to overcome a determined Gomez, it could end the former's career-best season, which will also feature a loss to a much lower-ranked opponent. 

Prediction: Kudermetova might take the match in a two setter