Elena Rybakina vs Jelena Ostapenko Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA Rome

Prediction published on 18/05/2023, 13:45  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 19/05/2023 at 05:33 in Tennis Predictions

Elena Rybakina is the highest seed left in the Italian Open women's singles tournament. Seeded seventh, Rybakina now faces the 20th seed Jelena Ostapenko in the semi-finals. The winner will be up against either 11th seed Veronika Kudermetova or the 31st seeded Anhelina Kalinina. Rybakina is up a place to fifth in the live rankings. Winning this title will see her move up to fourth place. The last round saw her beat top seed Iga Swiatek to reach her first Italian Open semi-final. The first set was lost in that match but Rybakina won the next on a tie-break. It was clear something was amiss with Swiatek and the world number one retired with the score 2-2 in the final set. That was Rybakina's third win over Swiatek this year. The 23-year-old has won one title this year, that was the Indian Wells tournament, another WTA 1000 event. A win here will see her reach the third final of the year but the first on clay. Only one set has been lost by her in this tournament. Two of her wins have come when the other player retired injured.

Jelena Ostapenko started this Italian Open ranked 20th in the world. This run to the last four has seen her rise three places in the live list and can go 15th with a win here. It's a welcome return to form on clay for her after a disappointing start to her season. This is the first time past the last 16 and in the last round Ostapenko beat in-form Paula Badosa. It took her three sets to do so though and that's the third time in this tournament a final set has been played. This is her fourth match against Rybakina but the first on clay. Ostapenko won in 2019 and 2021 but Rybakina beat her in this year's Australian Open quarter final. Rybakina looks to be in the better form and we pick her to reach the final.