Elena Rybakina vs Katie Volynets Prediction & Betting Tips - Abu Dhabi Open

Prediction published on 04/02/2025, 06:31  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 04/02/2025 at 07:31 in Tennis Predictions

Defending champion Elena Rybakina begins her title defence on Wednesday. The top seed  in this outdoor hard court Abu Dhabi Open faces qualifier Katie Volynets in the last 16.  Can Volynets dethrone the champion? Read our match prediction.

Rybakina is fifth in the latest world rankings list but down to seventh as she defends all the points won here in 2024. The 25-year-old has won six of her eight matches played this year. Three of her four matches in the United Cup were won, her only loss being to Iga Swiatak.

In the Australian Open, Rybakina made it to round four but lost in three sets to eventual champion Madison Keys. This is her second match against her opponent and she beat her on clay in 2022 for the loss of only four games.

Katie Volynets is at 63rd in the live rankings, just seven places below her career high. A win here will take Volynets into her second quarter-final of the year after a last eight appearance in Auckland. Three successive matches were lost before entering the qualifying rounds here. 

Two qualifying matches were won in straight sets. The American had to come from a set down to beat Sonay Kartel in round one of this tournament.  We go for under 18.5 games to be played in this match.