Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the WTA Berlin match.
Katerina Siniaková has already picked up three wins in Berlin and is looking to spring another surprise as she takes on one of the tournament’s leading contenders. Elena Rybakina has been in confident form on grass, and a victory here would see her through to a quarter-final showdown with Aryna Sabalenka.
Katerina Siniaková
Ranked No. 74 in the WTA standings, Katerina Siniaková advanced to the main draw through qualifying and has since notched up three victories, though all came against players ranked outside the top 50. Her recent record against higher-ranked opposition is less encouraging — Siniaková has lost her last five matches against top-20 opponents. While she does hold a winning head-to-head record against Elena Rybakina, with three victories from seven meetings, all of those wins came before 2020.
Elena Rybakina
Currently ranked No. 11, Elena Rybakina progressed after the withdrawal of Zheng Qinwen, and made light work of her replacement opponent, winning in straight sets 6:3, 7:6. She struck six aces and won 71% of points behind her first serve. Rybakina has been dominant against lower-ranked players, claiming victory in eight of her last nine matches against competitors outside the top 50.
Katerina Siniaková vs Elena Rybakina Prediction
There is a clear difference in quality between the two players, and Elena Rybakina's current level suggests she is well-positioned to close this out efficiently. Her aggressive baseline play and consistent serving are likely to prove too much for Katerina Siniaková.
