Aryna Sabalenka vs Elena Rybakina Preview & Prediction | 2023 China Open | Quarter-Final
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THE FACTS
When is Aryna Sabalenka vs Elena Rybakina on and what time does it start? Aryna Sabalenka vs Elena Rybakina will take place on Friday 6th October, 2023 – not before 12:30 (UK)
Where is Aryna Sabalenka vs Elena Rybakina taking place? Aryna Sabalenka vs Elena Rybakina will take place at the National Tennis Center in Beijing, USA
What surface is Aryna Sabalenka vs Elena Rybakina being played on? Aryna Sabalenka vs Elena Rybakina will take place on an outdoor hard court
What channel is Aryna Sabalenka vs Elena Rybakina on in the UK? Aryna Sabalenka vs Elena Rybakina will be televised live on the Amazon Prime app on Smart TVs
Where can I stream Aryna Sabalenka vs Elena Rybakina in the UK? Amazon Prime subscribers can stream Aryna Sabalenka vs Elena Rybakina live on the Prime Video app
THE PREDICTION
World number one Aryna Sabalenka is through to the quarter-finals of the China Open without dropping a set but she has been well challenged in her last two matches, edging through second-set tiebreaks against Katie Boulter on Tuesday and Jasmine Paolini on Thursday. The 25-year-old won four of her first five WTA titles on the Asian swings of 2018 and 2019, including back-to-back Masters titles in Wuhan, and she comes back to China four years on as a Grand Slam champion after winning her maiden major in Melbourne back in January at Elena Rybakina’s expense. World number five Rybakina returned the favour in the Indian Wells final to lift her first Masters title and she added a second WTA 1000 trophy with a huge run in Rome before enduring a tough summer on tour. The 24-year-old had lost each of her first four matches to Sabalenka in three sets apiece, including their first encounter at Wuhan four years ago, and it will be fascinating to see what transpires in their sixth encounter on Friday.
Rybakina came back from a set down to stop rising star Mirra Andreeva on Thursday but she will have to significantly improve on her recent encouraging signs to stand a chance here. The Kazakh has taken at least a set in all five of their matches but Sabalenka has the better recent form and pedigree in these conditions. Back the Belarussian to edge through to the semi-finals.
