Ons Jabeur vs Aryna Sabalenka Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA Cincinnati Open

Prediction published on 18/08/2023, 09:19  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 18/08/2023 at 10:01 in Tennis Predictions

But for Ons Jabeur, Aryna Sabalenka would have become the world number one. The second seed takes on fifth seeded Jabeur in the last eight of the Western & Southern Open. Sabalenka simply had to beat Jabeur in the Wimbledon semi-final to claim top spot but was beaten. Now they meet again but this time on an outdoor hard court in Cincinnati. Sabalenka remains second in the rankings but top of the WTA Race. The 25-year-old has won three titles this year with a couple more finals reached. Two of her title victories have come on outdoor hard courts - the Australian Open and Indian Wells. So far in Cincinnati, Sabalenka has had to go to three sets to beat Ann Li and then defeated 14th seeded Daria Kasatkina in straight sets. There have been five previous meetings with Jabeur and three have been won by Sabalenka. The Belarusian has won three of the last four and two have been played on hard courts. Three of the five meetings have seen over 21.5 games played.

Fifth seeded Ons Jabeur is playing her first tournament since losing in the Wimbledon final for the second successive year. The Tunisian will remain fifth in the world rankings even if winning this title. In the Live WTA Race, Jabeur is sixth but can go fifth if winning this tournament. Jabeur had a tough three setter in his first match of this event against Anhelina Kalinina. Two of the sets went to a tie-break. In the last 16, Jabeur was 5-2 up on unseeded Donna Vekic in the first set when her opponent retired. A tight match looks likely here and we go for over 21.5 games to be played.