Arina Rodionova vs Ekaterina Alexandrova Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA Libema Open

Prediction published on 09/06/2024, 01:21  by Daniel Ngulu | Modified on 09/06/2024 at 01:26 in Tennis Predictions

Third seed Ekaterina Alexandrova begins her Libema Open title defence in the first round against unseeded Arina Rodionova. The winner will play Emina Bektas or Anna Blinkova in the second round. Arina Rodionova is having a shaky season and has so far compiled a 21-18 record. She has featured across the top three levels and is coming off a second-round exit in the ITF tournament in London. This was her first taste of grass this season. The Australian is a strong grass player and has in her career won 62 matches on the surface. Rodionova has had contrasting fortunes when playing at tour level this year. The 34-year-old has participated in 10 tour events so far and in six of those she has been eliminated in the qualifying rounds. Of the four she has managed to make the main draw, two have seen her eliminated in the first round. Rodionova, who is set to start the week in 105th place in the live ranking, has managed two ITF finals this year.

Ekaterina Alexandrova has won the title here in the last two seasons and is hugely favoured to triumph again. The Russian will however need to get over her first half of the season struggles. Alexandrova has struggled for form this year and currently arrives for this match on a losing record. She has compiled a 13-14 record and has managed just one win in her last eight outings. The 29-year-old had a torrid clay court season where she lost six of her six matches. She was defeated in the first round at the French Open in straight sets by Viktoriya Tomova last time out. Tomova was ranked more than 50 places below her when they duelled. Returning to a tournament she has dominated recently should strengthen Alexandrova’s confidence levels. Also, the fact that she has the advantage in this matchup will stoke the fire some more. Currently ranked 16th in the live ranking, Alexandrova won her only encounter with Rodionova 2-0 in 2018. This was in the qualifying rounds in Doha.