Elina Svitolina vs Erin Routliffe Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA Strasbourg Open

Prediction published on 23/05/2023, 06:15  by Devesh Jaganath | Modified on 23/05/2023 at 06:18 in Tennis Predictions

World number 433, Elina Svitolina, will take on Erin Routliffe, ranked 584th, in round two of the WTA Strasbourg Open on Wednesday. The winner of this match will go on to face either Varvara Gracheva or Selena Janicijevic in the round of 16 later this week. Wildcard Svitolina was ranked inside the top 20 in the world prior to taking a year off to have a baby. She has only played on the clay this season and currently holds a record of 5-6. The Ukrainian returned at the W60 Chiasso tournament last month and beat seventh-seed Elena Gabriela Ruse in straight sets but was knocked out in the next round. She then tried her hand at the Madrid Masters later that month but was evidently still shaking off some rust. However, Svitolina seemed to hit her stride at the start of May, dropping just one set en route to the semi-final of the Saint Malo 125. She put on a valiant effort but came up just short against the eventual winner Sloane Stephens, though that run did almost halve her world ranking. The Ukrainian looked good in her opening match here in Strasbourg, beating Louisa Chirico in straight sets, and will fancy going two from two in this one. 

Lucky loser, Erin Routliffe, will be hoping to make the most of her fortunes following a loss to Angelina Gabueva in her second qualifier. The Kiwi is much more accustomed to the doubles game, where she holds three WTA titles and as many as 15 lower-level titles. Routliffe has only played ten singles matches since the start of last year. Her record this season stands at 2-3 overall and 2-2 on the clay. Her only performance of note in recent times came at the W25 Tauranga tournament, where she reached the quarter-final. Routliffe went into her first-round match as the underdog against Su Wei Hsieh, but managed to overcome the Taiwanese in three sets. After entering the tournament ranked 858th, another win here will give both her ranking and confidence a major boost.