Daria Kasatkina vs Aryna Sabalenka Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA Cincinnati Open

Prediction published on 17/08/2023, 06:53  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 17/08/2023 at 07:51 in Tennis Predictions

Second seeded Aryna Sabalenka bids to reach the Western & Southern Open quarter finals. 14th seed Daria Kasatkina stands between her and a last eight match against either fifth seeded Ons Jabeur or unseeded Donna Vekic. Sabalenka remains top of the Live WTA Race but still hasn't managed to topple Iga Swiatek in the overall rankings. This outdoor hard court event in Cincinnati is only her second since losing in the last four at Wimbledon. Her other tournament was in Montreal where she lost to Liudmila Samsonova in the last 16. Three titles have been won by the 25-year-old this year and two other finals reached. Both her wins in the Australian Open and at Indian Wells were hard court tournaments. Just one match has been played so far this week and the second seed had to go to three sets to get past qualifier Ann Li, losing the middle one. Sabalenka leads Kasatkina 3-2 in previous meetings. The most recent match was in San Jose last year with Kasatkina getting the win. The three before that had seen Sabalenka get the victory.

Daria Kasatkina won't forget the last set she played against Sabalenka. That was the decider in San Jose and it was won to love. The Russian began this tournament ranked 13th but is up a place in the live rankings. Her position is one place higher in the Live WTA Race. Kasatkina has played two recent hard court tournaments in the build-up to the US Open. Only the last 16 was reached in Washington but she got to the quarter finals in Montreal, losing to Elena Rybakina in three sets. Her hard court year began with a loss to Bencic in Adelaide and only one other quarter final was won before the clay court season began. We go for Sabalenka to get the win here.