Elena Rybakina vs Shelby Rogers Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA Adelaide

Prediction published on 05/01/2022, 11:16  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 05/01/2022 at 12:17 in Tennis Predictions

Elena Rybakina is the seventh seed in this Australian Open warm-up tournament in Adelaide. The world number 14 is up against unseeded Shelby Rogers for a place in the semi-finals. Rybakina started the new year with a three-set win over Storm Sanders (middle set lost) and then had an easier second round victory defeating Marie Bouzkova. Rybakina didn't make a strong start to 2021 but improved as the year progressed, reaching three semi-finals and just missing out on a Bronze at the Olympics. Her ranking rose from 19 to 14 last year and she'll be chasing a top ten spot in 2022. Rybakina has won two of her three previous matches against Rogers. The American beat her in the 2020 US Open but Rybakina won both their matches last year, including a straight sets win at Wimbledon, losing just five games.

Shelby Rogers is ranked 40th in the world, 20 places higher than at the start of 2021. Her ambition this year is to finally win a WTA Tour event and the American has made a good start to the year. The first round of this tournament saw her beat Madison Ingle in straight sets and then defeated the third seed Maria Sakkari in three sets. It could have been an easier win though as she led 7-6 2-0, before the Greek player fought back to win that second set. A win over Rybakina will see Rogers in her first semi-final since August 2020. The wait will continue though, back Rybakina to win this match.