WTA Italian Open 2021: Garbine Muguruza vs Elina Svitolina–Preview, Head to Head and Prediction

WTA Italian Open 2021: Garbine Muguruza vs Elina Svitolina–Preview, Head to Head and Prediction

Garbine Muguruza and Elina Svitolina

Garbine Muguruza will take on Elina Svitolina in the Third round of the Italian Open 2021. Muguruza is currently the World No.12 on the WTA rankings and Svitolina is the World No.6.

Match Details

  • Tournament: WTA Italian Open
  • Match: Garbine Muguruza vs Elina Svitolina
  • Round: Third Round
  • Date: 13th May, 2021
  • Prize Money: €16,935
  • Venue: Rome, Italy
  • Surface: Clay Court

Garbine Muguruza vs Elina Svitolina: Match Preview

Garbine Muguruza
Garbine Muguruza

Garbine Muguruza has been in fine form this season and consistently reached the later halves of tournaments on hard courts. She won the Dubai Open as well. Her transition to clay though has not been that smooth and a leg injury that she sustained at Charleston, has been her bane. She has had to miss the Madrid Open because of the same injury, but as she slowly but surely moves into the later stages here in Rome, she looks like she has the injury under control.

Muguruza beat Patricia Maria Țig of Romania in the first round, and in the second defeated Bernarda Pera in three sets, 2-6 6-0 7-5. The first round against Pera was a disaster and she rightly lost it 2-6, but then recovered her senses and her game to win in three sets. Her third round encounter will be against Elina Svitolina.

FS Video

Svitolina, who had a bye in the first round, came through in three sets against Amanda Anisimova. The Ukrainian won 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 in an hour and 40 minutes to ensure she continued to remain in the hunt to add to her two back to back title wins here in  2017 and 2018. 

Garbine Muguruza vs Elina Svitolina: Head-to-Head

Elina Svitolina
Elina Svitolina

The two players have met eleven times on the tour before, and Svitolina leads the head to head 6-5. Their last encounter was at the Australian Open 2020, where Muguruza won in straight sets 6-1 6-2. 

Garbine Muguruza vs Elina Svitolina: Prediction

Garbine Muguruza
Garbine Muguruza

Although Muguruza and Svitolina are both extremely good on clay, Muguruza has a slight advantage over the latter. In fact, she leads Svitolina 2-1 on clay. But, Muguruza’s serve has been a point of concern recently, and in her last match against Pera, she served up as many as nine double faults.

A repeat of that and Muguruza is surely going home. But Muguruza’s superior form, ability to raise her game, and past dominance on the surface makes her a favourite in this encounter. 

Match Prediction: Garbine Muguruza will beat Elina Svitolina in three sets. 

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Also Read: WTA Italian Open 2021: Ash Barty vs Veronika Kudermetova–Preview, Head to Head and Prediction