Diana Shnaider vs Lin Zhu Prediction: Stand behind Lin Zhu

The Hua Hin 2024 tournament draws to a close with the final showdown between the two best players of the tournament. Diana Shnaider and Lin Zhu both face each other in this edition's final. The last time these two players met each other was back in October last year at the WTA Nachang tournament in China. Diana Shnai won that game, by beating Lin Zhu in straight sets to advance into the 16th round of the tournament. Months later they meet again and both players will hope to prove they have what it takes to lift the trophy.

Diana Shnaider is currently ranked in 108th place on the WTA ranking. Diana Shnaider made it to the Semi Final as a junior at the Roland Garros in 2021 and also at the US Open in 2022. Then she made her WTA qualifying debut at the WTA Moscow in 2021. She also won her first ITF tournament in Antalya in 2021. And in 2023 Diana Shnaider reached the 2nd round on both her Grand Slam and Wimbledon debuts. She also won the WTA 125 Series title in Uruguay. 

Her first game in this tournament was against Magda Linette in the round of 32 and she won 2:1. Then she faced Paula Badosa, who retired just after the first set. And in the quarterfinals, Diana Shnaider defeated Dalmi Galfi in straight sets before beating Xinyu Wang in the semifinal, also in straight sets.

Lin Zhu is a 30-year-old Chinese player who currently ranks 45th place in the WTA ranking. She played her first professional tournament in the ITF circuit tournament in 2009 and she went on to win 15 singles and 6 doubles titles in the ITF circuit tournament. Then she won the doubles title at the WTA 125K series event in Zhengzhou in 2017. She also won two ITF circuit titles at the Luan and Jinan tournaments. In 2019, she won her first Grand Slam match against Wang Xinyu in the first round. By the end of 2019, she ended in the Top 100 for the first time in her career. And in 2021, she won the WTA 125K series title and she made it to the 2nd round of the Australian Open and Wimbledon. Then in 2022, she reached the quarter finals of the WTA Seoul tournament and also in the 2nd round of four other tournaments.

Her first game at the WTA Hua Hin this year was against Taylar Preston in the round of 32 and she won in straight sets. Then she defeated Linda Fruhvietova, Arina Rodionova and Yafan Wang, all in straight sets, to book her place in the final.

Diana Shnaider and Lin Zhu had faced each other only once in their career. That was in the WTA Nanchang round of 32 and Diana Shnaider won the game in straight sets.

Diana Shnaider and Lin Zhu have both been impressive in this tournament. Diana Shnaider has not been terrified of players at the top of the rankings and that has gotten her to this stage of the tournament. Lin Zhu has also been very good as she has maintained a perfect win record in all her games. She is yet to lose a set in this tournament and that's the sort of stats that wins you titles. Form wise, there's not much difference between these players. All that's needed is confidence and endurance. 

• Lin Zhu to Win by (+2.5) Handicap Games at 1.60 Odds
• Lin Zhu to Win and Under 24.5 Games at 2.8 Odds
• Lin Zhu to Win 2-0 at 3.40 Odds