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Match Details
Fixture: (5) Elena Rybakina vs (4) Jasmine Paolini
Date: 2 November 2024
Tournament: WTA Finals 2024
Round: Round Robin
Venue: King Saud University Indoor Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Category: WTA Year-End Championships
Surface: Hardcourt (Indoor)
Prize Money: $15.25 million
Live Telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Sky Sports | Canada - TSN
Elena Rybakina vs Jasmine Paolini preview
Fifth seed Elena Rybakina and fourth seed Jasmine Paolini are set to face off in the second singles match on the opening day of the 2024 WTA Finals on Saturday, November 2.
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Rybakina's 2024 season has been plagued by injuries and inconsistency, despite her strong 41-9 singles record. She secured titles in Brisbane, Abu Dhabi, and Stuttgart in a dominant first half and reached finals in Qatar and Miami. In Grand Slams, she made a semifinal run at Wimbledon and reached the quarterfinals at the French Open.
Rybakina has struggled since Wimbledon, however, with a first-round exit in Cincinnati and being forced to withdraw ahead of her second-round clash at the US Open due to injury. She will make her return to action at the WTA Finals.
Paolini, on the other hand, has enjoyed a breakthrough season, highlighted by her first WTA 1000 title in Dubai, where she overcame Anna Kalinskaya from a set down. She also reached consecutive Grand Slam finals at the French Open and Wimbledon, ultimately falling to Iga Swiatek and Barbora Krejcikova, respectively.
Paolini's second half of the season has been less fruitful, with a fourth-round finish at the US Open her best result. Most recently, she reached the Wuhan Open quarterfinals, where she lost to eventual finalist Zheng Qinwen in a close contest.
Elena Rybakina vs Jasmine Paolini head-to-head
Elena Rybakina and Jasmine Paolini have met four times on tour, with their head-to-head record tied at 2-2. Paolini claimed victory in their most recent matchup in the French Open quarterfinals earlier this year. Notably, she also holds the edge on hardcourts, having won their only encounter on the surface, while both of Rybakina’s wins have come on clay.
Elena Rybakina vs Jasmine Paolini odds
(Odds to be added once available)
Elena Rybakina vs Jasmine Paolini prediction
The upcoming clash between Elena Rybakina and Jasmine Paolini at the WTA Finals promises high-stakes drama, with both players eager to regain momentum. Rybakina has recently struggled with injuries, while Paolini’s performance has dipped since a strong first half of the season.
Though Paolini has enjoyed better overall results this year, especially at Grand Slams, Rybakina boasts a higher win percentage and a stronger hardcourt record, with two titles and a runner-up finish. In contrast, Paolini has one hardcourt title, with fourth-round showings in Melbourne and New York as her next-best results.
Paolini, however, may hold the edge psychologically, having won their last encounter and their only previous hardcourt match. She's also spent far more time out on court compared to Rybakina in the last couple of months, with the scales further tipped in her favor because of that.
We can expect a close contest nonetheless with a win for either of the pair a possibility.
Pick: Paolini to win in three sets.
