Zakharova Eyes Redemption in Jiangxi Open Clash Against Shibahara
The Jiangxi Open is heating up, and one of the most intriguing Round of 32 matchups is between Russia’s Anastasia Zakharova and Japan’s Ena Shibahara. This contest, scheduled for Monday, October 27, has tennis fans eagerly watching as the higher-ranked Zakharova, sitting at World No. 84, prepares to take on Shibahara, ranked 197th.
into the match, the odds favor Zakharova at -210, while Shibahara enters as the underdog with +160 odds. These figures from BetMGM Sportsbook suggest that Zakharova is expected to take control, though upsets are never off the table, especially in a tournament as unpredictable as the Jiangxi Open.
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Now, looking at the numbers, Shibahara’s performance this season on hard courts has been a bit of a mixed bag. She’s recorded nine wins and ten losses, with a solid 68% success rate in her service games. However, her return game hasn’t been as strong—winning just about 31% of those points. In her previous appearance at the Toray Pan Pacific Open, she pushed hard but ultimately lost to Rebecca Sramkova in three sets: 4-6, 6-4, 5-7. That narrow defeat showed her resilience, but also highlighted the small margins that often decide these mid-tier matches.
Zakharova, on the other hand, is still searching for a consistent run on hard courts this season. Despite her higher ranking, she hasn’t managed to clinch a single tournament title in her 15 attempts on this surface. Her 17-16 record may not look impressive, but her stats show she’s competitive—winning around 62.6% of service games and converting nearly half (47.5%) of her break-point opportunities. Still, her most recent outing at the Guangzhou Open ended with a tough 4-6, 1-6 loss to Shuai Zhang, another player who’s been testing her form lately.
The odds for this encounter also reflect their overall tournament chances—Shibahara sits at +5000 to win the Jiangxi Open, while Zakharova stands at +2000. Analysts see Zakharova’s experience and ranking giving her an edge, but Shibahara’s aggressive playing style could make this match far closer than the odds suggest.
As the two step onto the hard court in Nanchang, all eyes will be on Zakharova to see whether she can finally find her rhythm and translate her consistency into a deeper tournament run. For Shibahara, it’s a chance to shake up the draw and remind everyone that rankings don’t always tell the full story. Whatever the outcome, this clash promises to be a test of mental strength and tactical precision—a classic showdown of potential versus persistence.
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