Elena Rybakina vs Elina Svitolina Prediction & Betting Tips - Women's Olympic Tournament

Prediction published on 29/07/2021, 12:19  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 30/07/2021 at 18:35 in Tennis Predictions

This is a difficult match for both of these players. Elena Rybakina and Elina Svitolina battle it out for the bronze medal but so wish they were in the final. It's rare that losing semi-finalists get to play another singles match but there's a lot at stake here. Rybakina lost to Belinda Bencic in her semi-final but so easily could have won the match. She lost the first set on a tie-break but led 5-2 and had six set points. Rybakina eventually lost in three sets in a match that lasted nearly three hours. Before that defeat, she'd beaten  Sam Stosur, Rebecca Peterson, Donna Vekic and then seventh seeded Garbine Muguruza, all in straight sets. Rybakina has played Svitolina twice in her career. The first saw Svitolina win the Strasbourg title last year. The most recent match was won by Rybakina in straight sets as she made her way to the semi-final in Eastbourne.

Elina Svitolina is the fourth seed and was the highest remaining one in the semi-finals. The Ukrainian had beaten Laura Siegemund, Ajla Tomljanovic, Maria Sakkari and Camila Giorgi on her way to the semi-final. The Ukranian had no answer to Marketa Vondrousova and lost the match winning just four games. It's been a tough week for Svitolina with three of her matches going to a final set. At least Svitolina has fared better than in the 2016 Olympics when losing in the last eight. Her opponent looks to have been in the better form in this tournament, back her to get the win and go home with a bronze medal.