Elina Svitolina vs Aryna Sabalenka Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA Rome

Prediction published on 13/05/2024, 02:27  by Daniel Ngulu | Modified on 13/05/2024 at 02:32 in Tennis Predictions

Second seed Aryna Sabalenka and 16th seed Elina Svitolina will battle in the fourth round of the Italian Open. The winner will set up a quarter-final showdown with either Jelena Ostapenko or Rebecca Sramkova. Elina Svitolina’s sole victory over Sabalenka in their three previous meetings was achieved on clay. This was in Strasbourg in 2020. Considering she is a two-time Rome champion, Svitolina will be confident of progressing to the last eight. The Ukrainian won back-to-back Italian Open titles in 2017 and 2018. She has however not progressed past the quarter-finals since her last triumph. Last season, returning to the event after a year hiatus, she was eliminated in the first round. The 29-year-old is yet to drop a set in this year’s edition. She eliminated Anna Kalinskaya by the loss of six games in round three. Her fourth win of the season on clay, allowed her to improve her record to 14-8. This has also bumped her two places to 17th in the live ranking.

Aryna Sabalenka has won twice against Svitolina. She won their last encounter in straight sets at the French Open last year. Considering she is again one of the more in-form players in the WTA, the world number two will be confident of a win. Sabalenka has won 22 of the 28 matches she has contested this season. Eight of these have come in 10 outings on clay. The Belarussian defeated 32nd seed Dayana Yastremska in straight sets in the last round. She lost six games in the contest to secure only her second appearance in week two in Rome. The last time Sabalenka advanced past the third round here, she produced a semi-final finish. The five-time WTA 1000 champion has contested three finals this season winning one title, the Australian Open.