Elena Rybakina vs Danielle Collins Prediction & Betting Tips - Abu Dhabi Open

Prediction published on 07/02/2024, 05:55  by Nella Wagah in Tennis Predictions

Top seed Elina Rybakina begins her Abu Dhabi Open campaign with a second-round showdown with qualifier Danielle Collins. A quarterfinal battle with either Cristina Bucsa or Heather Watson will then await the winner. Elina Rybakina is making her third appearance in Abu Dhabi. She will hope that third time’s a charm in her bid to move past the quarterfinals for the first time. The current world number five’s strong start to the year will have her confident of this. Rybakina has won seven of the nine matches she has so far contested this season. Five of those victories came in her title-winning run in Brisbane. The Kazakh hasn’t had another deep run in her subsequent two tournaments. She hasn’t been able to win more than one match in either. Rybakina suffered a disappointing second-round elimination in Melbourne, a tournament she finished as runner-up last season. The 24-year-old has defeated Collins twice with both victories coming last season.

Danielle Collins won the first time she squared off with Collins. This was on an outdoor hard court and she will be hoping to rise to the occasion again. The American has been in excellent form in Abu Dhabi and has won her three matches without dropping a set. Her three wins have seen her move to 5-3 for the season. Despite her excellent form, the former world number seven has dropped two places to 71st in the live ranking. Collins defeated the returning Naomi Osaka in straight sets in the first round. She gave up five games in the first set but won the second 6-0.