US Open: Rybakina vs Osaka
06:00 PM EDT
The Line: Betting Odds: Rybakina -137 / Osaka +105
Elena Rybakina vs Naomi Osaka Preview
Elena Rybakina beat Yuliia Starodubtseva in straight sets to reach the fourth round of the US Open for the second time. In their second Grand Slam meeting this season, Rybakina avenged her loss to Starodubtseva back at the French Open with an assured performance.The match took 22 games to decide and lasted an hour and 53 minutes. Rybakina saved a set point in the first and clinched it in a tiebreak after an hour and eight minutes. The Kazakh broke serve at least three times in the second set to round off a 7-6, 6-3 victory.
Rybakina hit 33 winners and 30 unforced errors during the match. She tallied 12 aces and 1 double fault. Rybakina landed 59% of first serves in play and won 82% of first serve points (28/34). Rybakina won 50% of second serve points (12/24) and saved 1 of 3 break points.
Naomi Osaka, meanwhile, survived a three-set dogfight against Elise Mertens to reach the second week of the US Open again. The Japanese star prevailed 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 in two hours and 39 minutes, sealing victory on her fourth match point.
In the victory, Osaka hit 39 winners and 41 unforced errors. She tallied 9 aces and 2 double faults. Osaka landed 58% of first serves in play and won 79% of first serve points (50/63). Osaka won 35% of second serve points (16/46) and saved 8 of 11 break points.
Elena Rybakina vs Naomi Osaka Head-To-Head
Rybakina and Osaka met for the first time at the WTA 1000 in Toronto just last month. Rybakina prevailed in three sets.
Elena Rybakina vs Naomi Osaka Prediction
The overs in total games feels playable here. Rybakina and Osaka are two of the best servers on tour and neither player will be eager to get dragged into longer exchanges. Both players will likely gamble on their returns, so I’m not expecting plenty of break point chances. I’ll go with the overs here with a potential three-set match looking very likely.