Naomi Osaka v Karolina Muchova | US Open preview, betting tips and H2H

Naomi Osaka does battle with Karolina Muchova in a tasty second-round showdown at the US Open on Thursday.

Arthur Ashe Stadium is set for an intriguing encounter between the two-time Flushing Meadows champion and last year’s semi-finalist.

Both players enjoyed straight-set victories in the opening round, Osaka defeating former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko and Muchova seeing off Katie Volynets.

Osaka, who lifted this trophy in 2018 and 2020, is eager to continue building momentum on her recent return to action following the birth of her daughter.

Meanwhile, Muchova is not long back after missing the first six months of the season with a wrist injury. The Czech reached the semi-finals here 12 months ago, before losing out to eventual champion Coco Gauff.

A showdown with either Karolina Muchova or Katie Volynets awaits the winner of this clash in the second round.

The match gets under way at around 12am BST (7pm local time) on Thursday and will be contested over the best of three sets in Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Naomi Osaka v Karolina Muchova prediction

This is a tough one to call between two players still seeking to get back to the top of their games after lengthy absences.

Muchova was runner-up at Palermo recently, but is still building towards her optimum fitness levels after that wrist surgery.

With more match practice under her belt this year, Osaka may just have the edge.

Naomi Osaka v Karolina Muchova betting tip

Naomi Osaka to win 2-1 @ 11/4 with Bet365

Naomi Osaka v Karolina Muchova match odds

18+ | Please Gamble Responsibly | All odds correct at time of publication

How to watch Osaka v Muchova live online

All matches at the 2024 US Open are available to watch live via the Bet365 live streaming service.

To access live streaming of tennis, simply:

1. Go to Bet365.com via this special link
2. Register an account, make a first deposit and bet £10 to receive £30 in Bet Credits*
3. Once registered, go to the sports homepage and select ‘Tennis’ from the left-hand menu
4. Select the play icon next to the match in progress and the stream window will appear

*18+ only. New Customers only. Bet £10* & Get £30* in Free Bets. Sign up, deposit between £5* and £10* to your account and bet365 will give you three times that value in Free Bets when you place qualifying bets to the same value and they are settled. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits. Min odds/bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. T&Cs, time limits & exclusions apply. Registration required. GambleAware.org. *or currency equivalent

Naomi Osaka v Karolina Muchova head-to-head

This will be the fourth meeting between the players on the WTA Tour. Osaka leads the head-to-head 2-1, with both her victories coming on American hard courts.