Tokyo Olympics 2020: Elina Svitolina vs Elena Rybakina Preview, Head to Head and Prediction

In the bronze model match of the Women’s singles at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, World number 6 and the 4^th seeded Elina Svitolina from Ukraine will face World number 20 and the 15^th seeded Elena Rybakina from Kazakhstan.

Elina Svitolina vs Elena Rybakina: Match Details

Elina Svitolina vs Elena Rybakina: Preview

Elina Svitolina ended her winning streak at the Olympics at the semi-finals when she faced World number 42, Marketa Vondrousova from Czech. The young 22-year-old triumphed over Svitolina in just 64 minutes and took the win in straight sets, 6-3, 6-1.

Svitolina’s service games were not the best during this match. With having won only 16/29 points on her first serve and 8/20 points on her second serve, she gave Vondrousova seven opportunities to break her service game, out of which Marketa was able to convert 5. On the other hand, Svitolina was able to convert the only one opportunity she got to break Vondrousova’s service. At the end of the match, Svitolina won a total of 40 points while Vondrousova won 58. While, Marketa has secured herself a medal at the Tokyo Games, Svitolina will have to fight for it once more in the bronze medal match.

Elena Rybakina gave her opponent, World number 12 and number 9 seed, Belinda Bencic a tough 2 hour 45 minute fight. However, at the end of the match, Bencic proved to be the stronger player by taking the win in three sets, 6-7 (2-7), 6-4, 3-6.

Rybakina served an astonishing 14 aces throughout the match and had 16 opportunities to break compared to Bencic’s 10 chances. Although, both players were able to convert 6 break points each, Bencic dominated on the court during the tiebreak in the first set which helped her secure her spot in the finals. Rybakina also had a total of 23 more forced and unforced errors than Bencic which did not help her case either. At the end of the match, Bencic won a total of 115 points while, Rybakina was just four below her at 111 points.

Elina Svitolina vs Elena Rybakina: Head to Head

This will be the 3^rd meeting between the duo who last met in Eastbourne in 2021 in the round of 16 where Rybakina took the win in straight sets. Their head to head tie is currently tied at 1-1.

Elina Svitolina vs Elena Rybakina: Prediction

Svitolina is much more experience having turned pro six years before Rybakina. Svitolina has played many more tournaments when it comes to playing on the WTA Tour and at the Olympic Games. Her win-loss record this year is 23-13 and 13-6 on hard court with a 66%-win record on this surface in her entire career. However, Svitolina has had a difficult journey in Tokyo having played long, 3 set matches in her first three rounds.

On the other hand, Rybakina has much lesser experience and her win-loss record this year across all surfaces is 19-13. However, she has been in exceptional form in Tokyo. All the four matches she has won in Tokyo, she has been able to do it in straight sets. In the quarterfinals, she disappointed number 5 seed, Garbine Muguruza, 7-5, 6-1. Thus, this bronze medal match is going to be extremely exciting.

Prediction: Svitolina to win in three sets.

Also read: Tokyo Olympics 2020: Marketa Vondrousova blasts past Elina Svitolina to make it to the Finals

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