Cincinnati Open 2024: Iga Swiatek vs Marta Kostyuk preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick
Match Details
Fixture: (1) Iga Swiatek vs (15) Marta Kostyuk
Date: August 16, 2024
Tournament: Cincinnati Open 2024
Round: Third Round (Round of 16)
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+
Iga Swiatek vs Marta Kostyuk preview
World No. 1 Iga Swiatek will square off against 15th seed Marta Kostyuk in the third round of the Cincinnati Open 2024.
After a first-round bye, Swiatek faced Varvara Gracheva in the second round. She breezed through the first set as she didn't drop a single game en route to claiming it. An early break of serve put the Pole in an advantageous position in the second set, and she eventually led 5-2.
Swiatek then held four match points when Gracheva served to stay in the match at 5-2 but the latter fended them off in a gutsy hold of serve. She broke the top seed's serve in the next game to keep herself in contention and saved another match point on her own serve to make it 5-5.
The set went to a tie-break, in which Swiatek led 4-1 before Gracheva once again turned the tables on her to take the set, though she needed five set points to do so. The third set started off on a shaky note as well.
Swiatek initially gave up her break advantage as Gracheva got back on serve but the World No. 1 quickly resumed control once again this time. She bagged four games in a row to win the match 6-0, 6-7 (8), 6-2.
Kostyuk fought past Elise Mertens in three sets to reach the second round, where Lulu Sun awaited her. The Ukrainian dealt the first blow in the opening set to go up a break, and remained in front until the end to clinch the set.
Kostyuk led by a break twice in the second set, only for Sun to get back on serve each time. The latter held three set points on the former's serve in the 10th game, and failed to capitalize on them. It proved to be her downfall as the Ukrainian snagged a break in the next game and then served out the match for a 6-3, 7-5 win.
Iga Swiatek vs Marta Kostyuk head-to-head
Swiatek leads Kostyuk 2-0 in the head-to-head. She won their previous encounter at this year's Indian Wells Open in straight sets.
Iga Swiatek vs Marta Kostyuk odds
(Odds are sourced from BetMGM)
Iga Swiatek vs Marta Kostyuk prediction
Swiatek was on course for another routine win when Gracheva's spirited fightback forced her to dig deep. Considering it was her first match on hardcourts in five months, her second-set collapse can be brushed aside.
Kostyuk encountered some resistance from Sun in the previous round but managed to subdue her in the end. However, she did throw in 11 double faults, and those free gifts could lead to her demise against the Pole if she doesn't improve in that area.
Swiatek won both of her prior matches against Kostyuk in straight sets. She dropped only three games against her en route to the Indian Wells title earlier this year. While she can be a little vulnerable on fast hardcourts, and her opponent is in good form as well, she will still be favored to make it through this clash.
Pick: Iga Swiatek to win in straight sets.