Osaka can easily enter back in the Top 100 if she continues to progress with the upcoming tournaments. She has been playing better and better this season. In Rome, she faced three very tricky opponents that have excellent court coverage and game - Burel, Kostyuk and Kasatkina. I really think that with such wins, she will have the edge over Zheng. It's a powerful flat hitter with the more consistent serve.
Zheng has been clumsy since reaching the final in Melbourne. She fails to go deep in tournaments and her game is on decline. In Rome, she beat Rogers that is trying to come back to the circuit and struggled a lot against Noskova that tanked the match. Zheng is a tough nut to crack but she seems vulnerable for the past weeks.
We also have some coach drama. Wim Fissette was Osaka's coach, then when the Japanese went in burnout he signed with Zheng and now is back with Osaka. I have no idea how this will play out. Zheng might be motivated because of the betrayal while Osaka will have some coaching insight since Fissette has to know weaknesses. In any case, Osaka is just playing better right now.
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