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Match Details
Fixture: (3) Aryna Sabalenka vs Elina Svitolina
Date: Friday, August 16, 2024
Tournament: Cincinnati Open 2024
Round: Third Round (Round of 16)
Venue: Lindner Family Tennis Center, Mason, Ohio, U.S.
Category: WTA 1000
Surface: Hard
Prize Money: $3,211,715
Live Telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Sky Sports | Canada - TSN+
Aryna Sabalenka vs Elina Svitolina preview
Third seed Aryna Sabalenka will lock horns with Elina Svitolina in a highly anticipated third-round clash at the 2024 Cincinnati Open on Friday, August 16.
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Sabalenka kicked off her campaign against Italy's Elisabetta Cocciaretto in the second round, having received a bye in the first round. She made a blistering start, outmuscling Cocciaretto from the baseline. One break of serve proved enough as she went on to wrap up the opener comfortably.
More of the same followed in the second set with Sabalenka dominating proceedings with her power and precision from the back of the court. She broke early in the set and didn't allow the Italian back into the match, going on to seal a 6-3, 6-4 win.
Svitolina, meanwhile, opened her campaign with a brilliant 5-7, 6-3, 6-2 comeback victory against China's Wang Yafan in the first round. She then took on Spain's Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in the subsequent round. Both players started relatively evenly, trading a break of serve in the first set. Svitolina powered her way to the set, however, with a crucial break of serve towards the end.
The second set was a route in favor of the Ukranian who turned up the heat in the crucial moments. She was descisive on serve and equally effective on the return as she went on to register an emphatic 6-4, 6-1 win.
Aryna Sabalenka vs Elina Svitolina head-to-head
Aryna Sabalenka leads Elina Svitolina 3-1 in their head-to-head record. The Belarusian won their previous encounter 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7) in Rome earlier this year.
Aryna Sabalenka vs Elina Svitolina odds
(Odds sourced from BetMGM)
Aryna Sabalenka vs Elina Svitolina prediction
Aryna Sabalenka might have suffered a couple of disappointing defeats heading into Cincinnati, but she's made a good start to her campaign at the Lindner Family Tennis Center. She was scintillating on serve in her opener, winning an astonishing 89% of points behind her first serve and not facing a single break point throughout the encounter. She was incredibly consistent from the baseline, hardly conceding any unforced errors.
Elina Svitoline, meanwhile, was pushed the distance in her opener but came back much stronger in her second-round encounter. While she can be much better on serve, her groundstrokes have been vital and could pose a serious threat going forward if it comes off effectively. Her variations of shot with the slice will also be crucial as it allows her to open out the court more.
Sabalenka walks into the contest as the favorite, given her superior hardcourt and head-to-head record. Svitolina has often found the Belarusian's pace too hot to handle, and it could be the case if she does not counter it by taking the ball earlier and finishing off more points at the net.
Pick: Sabalenka to win in straight sets.
