Eight players can reach the last 16 of the WTA China Open, and it promises to be a spectacular day of tennis in Beijing with plenty of interesting matches. One of those will see Elena Rybakina facing Germany’s Eva Lys for a spot in the fourth round. Who will progress?
WTA Beijing Day 5 Predictions
Veronika Kudermetova vs Marie Bouzkova
Head-to-head: Kudermetova 4-3 Bouzkova
Kudermetova halted a three-match losing run after dismissing Anna Bondar 7-5 6-3 in her opener. Bouzkova entered this tournament as an unseeded player and needed to win two matches to reach the third round. And the Czech delivered two high-quality wins over Tatjana Maria and Magda Linette. Kudermetova leads their head-to-head 4-3 and won their last meeting on Chinese soil at the Wuhan Open last season. But should Bouzkova remain relentless and disciplined from the baseline, she can frustrate the Russian into making too many errors.
Prediction: Bouzkova in 3
Zhang Shuai vs Amanda Anisimova
Head-to-head: Ansisimova 1-0 Zhang
There was a fleeting moment of concern for Anisimova midway through her match against Katie Boulter, where she appeared to move gingerly just after her serve. But the American quickly shook it off and completed a straight-sets win. Zhang’s presence in this stage of the China Open is a massive surprise, having upstaged countrywoman Wang Xinyu in the last round. The 36-year-old has a knack for playing her best tennis in Beijing. She’s chasing a fourth career quarterfinal, although she is unlikely to overpower Anisimova.
Prediction: Anisimova in 2
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Belinda Bencic vs Priscilla Hon
Head-to-head: Bencic 1-0 Hon
Bencic’s comeback season has been a great success story. She’s one of a handful of mothers to win a WTA title in 2025 and was a Wimbledon semifinalist. Bencic is also back in the world’s top 20 and has a shot at qualifying for the WTA Finals. That goal will firmly be on her mind, and the Swiss won her first match since 2019 at the China Open, beating Katie Volynets 6-3 6-3. Pricilla Hon enters this match with all the momentum, having won four matches in Beijing. A couple of those came in qualifying, and she defeated Jelena Ostapenko with so much ease in the last round. Still, Hon’s good work will come unstuck when she faces Bencic, who should have a clear edge in timing and ball striking.
Prediction: Bencic in 2
Elena Rybakina vs Eva Lys
Head-to-head: Rybakina 1-0 Lys
Rybakina overcame a mid-match injury and an inspired Caty McNally in her opening match at the China Open. The big-serving Kazakh needed a medical timeout to tend to her right arm, but hammered eight aces en route to a hard-fought three-set victory. Lys, meanwhile, beat Guadalajara champion Iva Jovic in a dramatic second-round match. From 2-5 down in the third set, the German won five games in a row to clinch an unlikely win. Lys is playing a lot more self-belief this swing and can sense an opportunity if there is any drop in level from Rybakina. However, the eighth seed should have the match under control if she can win points effortlessly on her serve.
Prediction: Rybakina in 2
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane – USA TODAY Sports
