Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the WTA Strasbourg match.
Elena Rybakina enters the WTA Strasbourg tournament from the second round and is unlikely to exert herself fully. Her recent physical condition has raised concerns, and she often approaches WTA 250 and 500 events with caution. Wen Xinyu, by contrast, has already featured in and won her opening round, allowing her to find rhythm early in the competition. On the slow-playing clay in Strasbourg, she is expected to test her higher-ranked opponent.
Xinyu Wang
Xinyu Wang produced a composed performance in her first-round win over Kristina Mladenovic (6:4, 7:5). Her serve was reliable throughout, hitting five aces and three double faults while dropping just one service game. She also won 72% of points on her first serve. Her clay-court form this season has been solid — in four of her six matches on the surface, she has managed to win at least ten games. Even in her only previous meeting with Elena Rybakina, Xinyu Wang managed to take seven games.
Elena Rybakina
Elena Rybakina has not competed in Strasbourg since 2020, when she reached the final but was beaten by Elina Svitolina. This year, however, her priorities lie less in claiming the title and more in building up to Roland Garros. Her current form is short of its best — in three of her four clay matches this season, she has allowed opponents to win at least eight games.
Xinyu Wang vs Elena Rybakina Prediction
Xinyu Wang has made a strong start in Strasbourg. She is expected to serve effectively and challenge Elena Rybakina, with a strong chance of securing at least seven games in the match.
