Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the WTA Berlin match.
World number one Aryna Sabalenka continues her adaptation to grass courts following her run to the final at Roland Garros. She has already progressed past Rebeka Masarova in Berlin and now faces Elena Rybakina in the quarter-finals. The head-to-head record between the two stands evenly at 5-5.
Aryna Sabalenka
Despite a rain delay, Aryna Sabalenka comfortably overcame Rebeka Masarova in straight sets, winning by a five-game margin. Her game continues to revolve around powerful groundstrokes and aggressive play from the baseline. Against Masarova, Sabalenka fired five aces and won 73% of points behind her first serve. So far this season, she boasts an outstanding record of 41 wins in 48 matches, with just three losses to players ranked outside the top 10.
Elena Rybakina
Elena Rybakina has found it difficult to rediscover the level that saw her win Wimbledon in 2022. A dip in form, coupled with internal challenges, has seen Rybakina drop out of the top 10. Even at this year’s Wimbledon, the Kazakhstani player was eliminated in the second round after a defeat to Tatjana Maria (No. 43). In Berlin, she edged past Ashlyn Krueger (No. 33) and Katerina Siniakova (No. 74), with both matches decided by tie-breaks. Importantly, Rybakina has averaged five double faults per match. Her recent record against top-10 opponents is also a concern, having lost five of her last six encounters.
Aryna Sabalenka vs Elena Rybakina Prediction
Elena Rybakina is clearly not at her best, while Aryna Sabalenka looks well-prepared to capitalise. On grass, where the effectiveness of the first serve and mental toughness often prove decisive, Sabalenka appears the clear favourite to come through.
