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Day five at WTA Beijing promises plenty of intrigue on the women’s side, with contrasting styles and recent form trends set to collide. Some players have been cruising through the early rounds with confidence, while others have had to grind their way past difficult opponents. With a mix of former Grand Slam champions, rising stars, and proven hard-court performers, the stage looks set for another dramatic round. As always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the schedule. But who will advance? WTA Beijing Day 5 Predictions Jasmine Paolini vs Sofia Kenin Head-to-Head: Kenin 3–0 Paolini Paolini has looked sharp in recent weeks and handled her last round well, showing her growing comfort on hard courts. Kenin has struggled to put together consistent wins lately, but she owns a dominant head-to-head record against Paolini, having won all three of their matches in straight sets. That history adds an extra layer to what already appears to be a clash of momentum versus pedigree. Prediction: Paolini in 3 Karolina Muchova vs Paula Badosa Head-to-Head: Badosa 2–1 Muchova Badosa was pushed hard in her opening match and needed to battle through to advance, showing flashes of her trademark baseline power but also some inconsistency. Muchova, on the other hand, looked locked in during her first match since her US Open quarterfinal exit, striking the ball with confidence and clarity. With both players searching for rhythm after recent stop-start spells, this matchup feels like it could hinge on who settles into their patterns first. Prediction: Muchova in 2 McCartney Kessley vs Barbora Krejcikova Head-to-Head: first meeting Kessley has enjoyed a breakthrough run in Beijing, finding a way to rise above expectations with a couple of gritty wins. Krejcikova came through her opener showing glimpses of the form that once made her a Grand Slam champion, and while the gulf in experience is evident, Kessley’s momentum makes this an intriguing test of whether belief can disrupt pedigree. Prediction: Krejcikova in 2 Coco Gauff vs Leylah Fernandez Head-to-Head: Gauff 3–0 Fernandez Fernandez produced a dominant display in the last round, racing past Sakkari 6-2, 6-0 with clean, aggressive hitting. Gauff was equally commanding in her own match, underlining the strength of her hard-court game. Fernandez has yet to beat Gauff in three meetings, but the way both are striking the ball suggests this could be their most competitive clash yet. Prediction: Gauff in 2
