Cincinnati Open 2024: Elena Rybakina vs Leylah Fernandez preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick
Match Details
Fixture: (4) Elena Rybakina vs Leylah Fernandez
Date: August 15, 2024
Tournament: Cincinnati Open 2024
Round: Second Round (Round of 32)
Venue: Lindner Family Tennis Center, Mason, Ohio, US
Category: WTA 1000
Surface: Hard
Prize Money: $3,211,715
Live Telecast: US - Tennis Channel | UK - Sky Sports | Canada - TSN+
Elena Rybakina vs Leylah Fernandez preview
Fourth seed Elena Rybakina will take on Leylah Fernandez in the second round of the Cincinnati Open 2024.
Rybakina has been one of the most consistent performers on tour this season, having compiled a 40-8 record so far. She won the title in Brisbane at the start of the season, though she was bundled out in the second round of the Australian Open. She bounced back with a title in Abu Dhabi and a runner-up finish at the Qatar Open.
The Kazakh couldn't defend her Indian Wells title due to an illness and reached the final of the Miami Open upon her return. She captured her third title of the season at the start of the clay swing in Stuttgart. She later reached the semifinals in Madrid and the quarterfinals of the French Open.
Rybakina capped off her time on grass with a semifinal showing at Wimbledon. She couldn't compete at the Paris Olympics due to bronchitis and missed last week's Canadian Open as well. She received a first-round bye in Cincinnati as one of the top eight seeds.
Fernandez was drawn against Yuan Yue in the first round here. She led her opponent 3-1 in the first set and then dropped the next five games to lose the set. The Canadian found herself in trouble as she got broken at the start of the second set.
With her back up against the wall, Fernandez raised her level as she swept the last four games of the set to take it. While she initially relinquished her lead in the decider, she got back on track with another break of serve and remained in front to wrap up a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 comeback win.
Elena Rybakina vs Leylah Fernandez head-to-head
Rybakina leads Fernandez 1-0 in the head-to-head. She won their previous encounter at this year's Qatar Open in straight sets.
Elena Rybakina vs Leylah Fernandez odds
(Odds are sourced from BetMGM)
Elena Rybakina vs Leylah Fernandez prediction
Fernandez found herself on the backfoot against Yuan due to her wayward shotmaking at the start. However, she cut down on her errors and focused on hauling herself over the finish line.
Fernandez lost her previous and only match against Rybakina at the Qatar Open quite handily. However, this will be the latter's first match in over a month after a bout of illness.
Rybakina has rebounded well after falling sick this year. She reached the Miami final after missing Indian Wells, and the quarterfinals of the French Open after missing the Italian Open.
Rybakina has lost before the quarterfinals only once this year, at the Australian Open. It all depends on how healthy she is. If she's not at her best physically, then Fernandez has a shot, or else the Kazakh is likely to win yet again.
Pick: Elena Rybakina to win in three sets.