Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the WTA Cincinnati match.
Elena Rybakina and Madison Keys have both come through testing opening rounds and now face off for a place in the quarter-finals. In the sweltering Cincinnati heat, recovery and endurance will be just as important as shot-making.
Elena Rybakina
Rybakina is gradually finding her rhythm, but she has had to work hard this week. Against Renata Zarazua, the Kazakh dropped a set and spent over two hours on court, while her next match with Mertens also went to three sets. The numbers still favour her — in four of her last six hard-court matches against top-10 opposition, Elena has gone beyond 21 games and made it a battle. Her serve has been a weapon here, delivering 25 aces, but the double-fault count is a concern — 17 across her two matches.
Madison Keys
Keys has not started the tournament in great form, continuing a run of inconsistent results. Since the start of August, she has won just one match in straight sets. Madison has also lost three of her last five against top-10 opponents, underlining her struggles against elite players. Even so, on home soil with the crowd behind her, she is capable of pushing Rybakina hard. The head-to-head stands at 3-2 in Keys’ favour, with four of those matches going to at least 21 games.
Elena Rybakina vs Madison Keys Prediction
Rybakina appears the sharper of the two. Her ability to dictate points and accelerate rallies should give her the edge, though Keys is unlikely to go quietly. Expect this contest to pass the 20.5-game mark.
