Match Details
Fixation: Naomi Osaka versus Kaia Kanepi.
Date: August 8, 2022.
Tournament: Canadian Open 2022.
Round: First round (16th finals).
Venue: Toronto, Canada.
Category: WTA1000.
Surface: Hard.
Prize money: $2,697,250.
Live broadcast: United States – Tennis Channel | Canada – Sportsnet, TVA Sports | UK – Amazon Prime Video.
Preview of Naomi Osaka vs. Kaia Kanepi
Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka will face Kaia Kanepi in the first round of the 2022 Canadian Open.
Osaka’s season has been quite eventful. She made her return to the Melbourne Summer Set, but withdrew from the tournament before her semi-final match. At the Australian Open, Amanda Anisimova ended her title defense in the third round.
His outing at Indian Wells ended in the second round. She notched her best finish of the season at the Miami Open by reaching the final, where she lost to the in-form Iga Swiatek in straight sets.
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The former world No. 1 had a rather short season on clay. Osaka has qualified for the second round of the Madrid Open. At Roland-Garros, Anisimova knocked her out of a Grand Slam for the second time in a row. She got injured during the match and completely skipped the swing on the grass.
Osaka returned to action at the Silicon Valley Classic. She defeated the young Qinwen Zheng in three sets in the first round. Coco Gauff dominated her in the second round, but the Japanese didn’t go down without a fight. She saved seven match points before finally folding.
Kanepi lost in the second round of his very first tournament of the season. At the Australian Open, she beat the likes of former world number one Angelique Kerber and top 10 player Aryna Sabalenka to reach the quarter-finals. It was her first time making the last eight in Melbourne. She went down to Swiatek in three sets.
Kanepi followed that up with a third round in both Indian Wells and Miami. She had a good season on clay. The Estonian knocked out former French Open champion Garbine Muguruza in the first round of Roland Garros, before losing to Coco Gauff in the third round.
She didn’t find too much success on grass this time, making a first-round exit at Wimbledon. She is currently competing in the Citi Open and has reached the semi-finals, where she will face Daria Saville.
The confrontations between Naomi Osaka and Kaia Kanepi
Kanepi leads Osaka 1-0 in the head-to-head. She won their previous meeting at the 2017 US Open in straight sets.
Naomi Osaka vs. Kaia Kanepi Odds
Ratings will be added as they become available.
Naomi Osaka vs Kaia Kanepi Prediction
Over the years, Kanepi has rightfully earned a reputation on the circuit as a giant killer. She has already beaten a few Grand Slam champions this year and will be aiming for a third scalp in the form of Osaka. With her strong performance at the Citi Open, the Estonian will be full of confidence and momentum.
Osaka has shown that she can still compete at a high level, but her lack of in-match action is quite evident at times. Her movement has decreased a bit and she is unable to properly execute her shots while on the run. His serve, while still a huge asset, didn’t quite click in his last tournament.
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Kanepi has enough groundstroke firepower to take on Osaka. This contest will be a battle between two of the best hitters on the tour. Both will seek to overpower the other with their shots.
She usually raises her level by taking on a more accomplished player. The Estonian is likely to pick up another upset victory but it would be unwise to completely count Osaka out.
Take: Kaia Kanepi winner in three sets.