17th seed Jelena Ostapenko squares off against 22nd seed Elena Rybakina in the quarterfinals of the 2023 Australian Open on Tuesday.
The 2022 Wimbledon champion made history by becoming the first woman representing Kazakhstan to reach the quarterfinals at the Australian Open.
In the first round, Rybakina got off to a fine start as she beat Elisabetta Cocciaretto in straight sets 7-5, 6-3. She followed it up with an error-free effort to defeat Kaja Juvan in straight sets 6-2, 6-1. In the third round, Rybakina got the better of the 13th seed Danielle Collins in three sets 6-2, 5-7, 6-2. Rybakina’s biggest test came in the fourth round as she faced the favorite Iga Swiatek. The Kazakhstani No. 1 went on to win the encounter convincingly in straight sets 6-4, 6-4 to throw the competition wide open. Rybakina has been lethal with her serves and that gives her the edge.
The former French Open champion also made history by becoming the first Latvian women’s player to reach the quarterfinals at the Australian Open.
In the first round, she made light work of Dayana Yastremska and notched up a win in straight sets 6-4, 6-2. Ostapenko went on to defeat Anna Bondair in three sets after a scare in the second set. Ostapenko’s flawless win in the third round against Kateryna Baindl set up a date with 7th seed Coco Gauff in the fourth round. The experienced campaigner used her veteran instincts to get the better of the exuberant Gauff in straight sets 7-5, 6-3.
The head-to-head scoreline currently stands at 2-0 in favor of Jelena Ostapenko. She won their last encounter at the 2021 Eastbourne Championships in straight sets.
Prediction: Elena Rybakina to win in three sets.
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