Ostapenko vs Zakharova Prediction 22 September 2026
Jelena Ostapenko and Anastasia Zakharova meet in the first round of the WTA 250 in Seoul. Ostapenko is the top seed and holds a clear ranking advantage over her opponent - she is currently 32nd in the WTA rankings, while Zakharova sits around the edge of the top 100. That said, the favourite's position may not be straightforward for Ostapenko: she arrives in Korea after a run of poor results, and their only previous meeting showed that Zakharova can cause her real problems.
Head-to-Head
The two have met just once - in February this season on hard court in Doha. Ostapenko won, but it was a tight match. Zakharova took the first set on a tie-break, before the Latvian turned it around - 6-7, 6-3, 6-4. The match went to three sets and 32 games in total.
Jelena Ostapenko Player Overview
Ostapenko arrived in Seoul in mixed form. Despite being the top seed and the most decorated player in the draw, her recent results have not matched that status. After a confident win over Antonia Ruzic at Wimbledon, she lost to Aryna Sabalenka, Zhang Shuai, Magdalena Frech and Tatjana Maria. In her first-round match at the US Open against Maria, Ostapenko took the opening set 6-4 but then won only three games across the next two sets.
That said, Jelena's quality cannot be dismissed. According to the official WTA website, she is ranked 32nd, with a career-high of fifth. Ostapenko has a Roland Garros title to her name and many years of competing against the best players on tour. The key question right now is not her level, but how quickly she can regain control of her game after this run of poor results.
Match Results: Jelena Ostapenko
Anastasia Zakharova Player Overview
This season has been a notable step forward for Zakharova. According to the WTA, she reached a career-high ranking of 65th in April. She is currently ranked around 100th, and her WTA profile shows 33 wins and 25 losses in singles this season.
Her recent form, however, raises questions. Zakharova has won just one of her last five matches - a 7-6, 6-0 victory over Anna Blinkova - and then lost back-to-back in straight sets to Kayla Collins and Naomi Osaka. Both players, then, arrive in Seoul in a difficult run of form.
Match Results: Anastasia Zakharova
Key factors
- Ostapenko has spent considerably longer among the leading players on tour.
- Ostapenko received the top seed in Seoul.
- Both players have won just one of their last five matches.
Expected scenario
Ostapenko is expected to impose her game from the outset. When the Latvian is hitting cleanly, she seizes the initiative quickly and forces her opponent onto the defensive. However, her recent matches show how easily a strong start can give way to a dip in level - as happened against Tatiana Maria at the US Open, where after taking the first set she unexpectedly lost control of the match. For Zakharova, the opposite scenario is more favourable. The longer the score stays level, the greater the pressure on the favourite. Something similar played out in their February meeting in Doha. The first set may therefore be decisive: if Ostapenko starts confidently, that brings a straight-sets win closer, while an extended battle from the early games would again create a tense contest between the two.
⭐ Editor's Pick
Given the current form of both players, this match looks considerably more intriguing than the ranking gap between Ostapenko, ranked 32nd, and Zakharova, closer to the top 100, might suggest. Both players arrive at the tournament after a run of poor results, and in their only previous meeting the Latvian won in three sets. So expecting a straightforward win for Ostapenko simply because of her top-seed status seems unwarranted.
Ostapenko's main advantage remains her experience and higher ceiling. If Jelena gets anywhere near her usual level, she should create more opportunities on return and handle the important rallies more effectively. Zakharova may well make it competitive again - taking a set or staying level for long stretches - but Ostapenko remains the favourite over the course of the match. Our pick is Total Games - Over 20.5.
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Betting Tips: Jelena Ostapenko - Anastasia Zakharova
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