Ashleigh Barty vs Elena Rybakina Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA Adelaide

Prediction published on 08/01/2022, 11:34  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 08/01/2022 at 13:04 in Tennis Predictions

The Adelaide International will have a new champion this year. That was confirmed after top seed Ashleigh Barty beat defending champion Iga Swiatek in the semi-finals. The world number one now takes on seventh seeded Elena Rybakina in the final. Barty has had to win three matches to reach this final. Her opening match was a difficult one as she had to come from behind to get a three-set win over Coco Gauff. Two straight sets wins have followed, with victories over Sofia Kenin and then Swiatek. Barty excels when it comes to playing opponents ranked in the top 20. Since the start of 2021, the Australian has won 16 out of 17 matches against those in the top 20, her only loss being to Aryna Sabalenka in Madrid. 

Rybakina is the world number 14 and also had a few problems in  her opening match. It took her three sets to beat Stom Sanders, losing the middle set. That was followed by a straight sets victory over Maria Bouzkova. More problems came in the third round with the first set lost to Shelby Rogers. Rybakina fought back well, losing only five games in winning the next two sets. The semi-finals saw her up against the unseeded Misaki Doi, winning for the loss of only seven games. Rybakina is bidding to win her third WTA tour title. The last was back in 2020, also in Australia, when winning the Hobart International. The following tournament saw her lose to Barty in the Australian Open winning just five games. Barty looks in good form and can be backed to win the title.