WTA Gippsland Trophy 2021: Elina Svitolina vs Elise Mertens – Preview, Head to head, Prediction


WTA Gippsland Trophy 2021: Elina Svitolina vs Elise Mertens – Preview, Head to head, Prediction
Elina Svitolina v Elise Mertens

World No. 5, Elina Svitolina will look to continue her superb run in the WTA Gippsland Trophy 2021 as she faces Elise Mertens in the quarterfinal on Thursday, February 4.

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Match details

  • Fixture: Elina Svitolina v Elise Mertens
  • Date: February 4th, 2021
  • Tournament: Gippsland Trophy 2021
  • Round: Quarter-final
  • Venue: Melbourne, Australia
  • Surface: Outdoor hardcourt
  • Prize money: $565,530

Elina Svitolina v Elise Mertens: Match Preview

Elina Svitolina

Starting with a quarterfinal run in WTA Abu Dhabi at the start of the year, the 2-time Grand Slam semifinalist, Svitolina has delivered a similar run right here in Melbourne too.

Off to a promising start to her 2021 WTA tour, Svitolina started off this event in the second round preceded by a bye in the opening round. She first defeated Andrea Petkovic 6-1, 6-4 in a clinical performance. Then, the Ukrainian met the Latvian prodigy Jelena Ostapenko who fought hard in the first set but Svitolina managed to win the critical points that got her through to the last eight of this tournament.

Playing in her first WTA tournament since the Linz Open last year, Elise Mertens has enjoyed a good run here in Melbourne. The No.7 seed, enjoying a bye in the opening round, started her run in 2021 with a straight-set win over Mayo Hibi. She then met the Frenchwoman Carolina Garcia, whom she moved past with 7-6(1), 6-3.

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Peaking at World No. 12, the Belgian may not be a player with lots of titles under her belt, but she shows a lot of promise. The 25-year-old ended the previous season with a runner-up trophy in Linz, losing to Aryna Sabalenka in the final followed by a similar run at the WTA Prague Open too.

Elina Svitolina v Elise Mertens: Head to head

Elise Mertens

Svitolina holds a 3-1 lead over Mertens, last meeting her in the Cincinnati Open of 2019. Head to head sits in the favor of the World No.5 – 3-1.

Elina Svitolina v Elise Mertens: Match Prediction

Elina Svitolina

Should Svitolina succeed in dispatching Mertens, she will most likely find herself facing Naomi Osaka in the semi-final however, Mertens, in the past, has shown a tendency to defeat the big guns and upset the order.

Having won the US Open doubles title in 2019, the Belgium international can certainly make use of that experience besides taking inspirations from her victories over top 10 players like Naomi Osaka, Angelique Kerber, and Simona Halep in the past.

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This will be a tight game but expect Svitolina to come through at the end of a thrilling three-set battle.

Match Prediction: Elina Svitolina in three-sets.

Also Read: WTA Gippsland Trophy 2021: Naomi Osaka vs Irina-Camelia Begu – Preview, Head to head & Prediction