US Open 2024: Elena Rybakina vs Destanee Aiava preview, head-to-head, prediction, and pick
Match Details
Fixture: (4) Elena Rybakina vs Destanee Aiava
Date: August 27, 2024
Tournament: US Open 2024
Round: First Round
Venue: USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, New York, USA
Category: Grand Slam
Surface: Hard
Prize Money: $75,000,000
Live Telecast: USA - ESPN | UK - Sky Sports | Canada - TSN, RDS
Elena Rybakina vs Destanee Aiava preview
Elena Rybakina will open her 2024 US Open campaign with an intriguing first-round encounter against qualifier Destanee Aiava on Tuesday (August 27).
Rybakina, the fourth seed at this year’s tournament, comes into the season’s final Slam with very few matches on North American hardcourts under her belt. She played at just the Cincinnati Open, but was sent packing by Leylah Fernandez in the opening round.
The Kazakh’s overall win-loss record for the season still stands at an impressive 40-9. But given her recent run-in with illness, she will be looking to be a 100% physically fit more than anything else.
Aiava, on the other hand, has already played three matches at the US Open, having come through the qualification rounds. She beat the likes of Ana Konjuh and Mai Hontama to ensure a New York main-draw debut for herself.
A promising junior, Aiava has taken some time to transition onto the senior circuit. She has played at Slams before but is still hunting for that first main-draw win.
Elena Rybakina vs Destanee Aiava head-to-head
This will be the first meeting between Rybakina and Aiava, so their current head-to-head stands at a 0-0 deadlock.
Elena Rybakina vs Destanee Aiava odds
(Odds will be updated once available)
Elena Rybakina vs Destanee Aiava prediction
Given the huge gulf in world ranking and level of experience, Elena Rybakina will be the big favorite to win the contest on paper. She, however, has not played a lot of tennis since Wimbledon.
The Kazakh withdrew from the Olympics after contracting acute bronchitis and was not at her best in Cincinnati. For someone like Destanee Aiava, that will give her the extra belief in her chances to stage an upset.
The Aussie was solid in the qualification rounds, hitting her spots on the serve well enough for most part. She was also very effective on return, breaking her opponents 13 times in three matches.
Aiava will need to replicate that form given her opponent’s serving prowess. There is bound to be some rust and nerves given the early-round jitters.
That said, Aiava has not even played in a main-draw match on the tour all year. She has the game to push Rybakina, but the occasion might get the better of her in the end.
Prediction: Rybakina to win in three sets