Aryna Sabalenka vs Elena Rybakina Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA Brisbane

Prediction published on 06/01/2024, 06:09  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 06/01/2024 at 16:00 in Tennis Predictions

The top two seeds meet in the final of the Brisbane International. Top seed Aryna Sabalenka faces second seeded Elena Rybakina in a repeat of the 2023 Australian Open final. Sabalenka won on that occasion and is the favorite here to get another win. If doing so it'd be her third straight tournament victory in Australia so she obviously loves playing down under. At one time last year she made it to the top of the rankings but is currently second behind Iga Swiatek. It's been a strong start to the new year for the 25-year-old and this final has been reached without the loss of a set. Three seeds have been beaten and in the last four Sabalenka beat Victoria Azarenka for the loss of only six games. Four matches have been won in this tournament and the top seed has only dropped 15 games including winning two sets to love.

Elena Rybakina was ranked fourth in the world at the start of this tournament. Reaching the final in Brisbane means the 24-year-old will be in third place at the end of this tournament regardless of the result of this final. Rybakina has a poor record against her opponent having only won two of their previous seven meetings. Their last match saw Sabalenka beat her at the WTA Finals but the four matches they played in 2023 were shared 2-2. The second seed has also made it to the final of the Brisbane International without dropping a set. Only 12 games have been lost by her, though her quarter final did see opponent Anastasia Potapova retire after the first set. In the semi-finals, Rybakina beat unseeded Linda Noskova for the loss of five games. We go for Sabalenka to get the victory.