WTA Shenzhen Open Final Odds & Pick: Alexandrova vs Rybakina
By Hans Themistode in Tennis
- The first WTA tournament of the year is coming to a close
- With Ekaterina Alexandrova and Elena Rybinka left as the last two women standing, it’s certainly going to be a good matchup
- Find out who we believe is going to leave with the trophy on Saturday afternoon
In what many would consider a surprise, the Shenzhen Open will come down to one final match between Ekaterina Alexandrova and Elena Rybakina at 12:00 am EST on January 11.
Even with both women beating the odds to make it here, it is Alexandrova who is given just the slightest of edges to come out with the first WTA trophy of 2020.
Ekaterina Alexandrova vs Elena Rybakina Odds
| Player | Spread | Moneyline Odds | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ekaterina Alexandrova | -2 (-110) | -146 | O 21.5 (-126) |
| Elena Rybakina | +2 (-110) | +126 | U 21.5 (+106) |
Odds taken Jan. 10
Elena Rybakina Starts Off Hot
If you came into the 2020 calendar year believing that the 20-year-old Elena Rybakina was due for a reality check, then it seems as though you’ll be waiting a long time.
After a 2019 season which saw Rybakina win a career-high 42 contests, she started off 2020 on a positive note.
Elena Rybakina finds the forehand winner in the first game of the second set, after claiming the first set over Kristyna Pliskova 6-2 at #ShenzhenOpen pic.twitter.com/cP1VlzQ4Ta
— wta (@WTA) January 10, 2020
In two matches against Elise Mertens and Saisai Zheng in the Shenzhen Open, Rybakina was forced to go to three sets but ultimately got it done in the decider.
Against Yafan Wang and most particularly against Kristyna Pliskova, she was dominant, destroying both women in straight sets.
In order for Rybakina to continue her meteoric rise, she will need to get past an opponent that has been the most dominant player in the entire tournament.
Ekaterina Alexandrova Has Officially Arrived
The run that Elena Rybakina is impressive, but if you compare it to the one that Ekaterina Alexandrova is currently on, then there essentially is no comparison.
2020 marks the fifth straight year in which Alexandrova has seen her rankings rise. It isn’t just that she’s winning, but more so how she’s doing it.
Ekaterina Alexandrova wins the hard-hitting rally đź’Ş#ShenzhenOpen pic.twitter.com/F88bL3sL2H
— wta (@WTA) January 10, 2020
In her first two matchups of this tournament against Katerina Siniakova and Shuai Peng, Alexandrova made it look easy winning in straight sets. She also proved that she isn’t a frontrunner, coming back from a set down against Qiang Wang to win in three.
In the semifinals, she was really up against it when she was matched up with former two-time grand slam winner in Garbine Muguruza. Alexandrova had little trouble in defeating Muguruza in less than an hour and a half.
It may have been somewhat of a cakewalk up until this point, but her contest against Elena Rybakina will be anything but.
How They Matchup
This might be the first time that these two women will face off against one another but it certainly won’t be the last.
When both Elena Rybakina and Ekaterina Alexandrova stand across the net from one another, they will quickly come to the realization that they almost mirror images of each other.
Alexandrova vs Rybakina
| 34 | Rankings | 36 |
| 34-16 | Hardcourt Record in 2019 | 21-12 |
| 42-27 | Overall Record in 2019 | 42-19 |
| 1 | Titles Won in 2019 | 2 |
Yet, in the case of Alexandrova, she might not be the overall player that Rybakina currently is but that doesn’t exactly matter. This contest will take place on the hard courts. Although their results are fairly similar, she does have the advantage.
Final Prediction: Elena Rybakina
Youth will be served in the Shenzhen Open finals.
All signs point to Alexandrova taking home the title. She’s a bit older. Has the edge in terms of experience and if we just look at her performance on the court last year, she seems to hold the edge. Even with everything against her, expect Rybinka to pull off the slight upset. Her run up until this point has been beyond impressive. Just take a look at her last contest.
Garbine Muguruza had the look of someone who was eager to put behind a miserable 2019. Not many were expecting the former two-time grand slam winner to come up short, but that is exactly what happened. Rybakina was dominant during the contest. When you couple that performance along with her entire body of work for this tournament then it should leave little doubt as to what she can accomplish during her finals matchup against Ekaterina Alexandrova.
Fans can expect a tough matchup for Rybakina, but they can also expect her to figure out a way to get the job done.
Sports Writer
Hans Themistode has worked in sports journalism since attending Queens College, and has worked for several newspapers including the BX Times and Canarsie Courier, as well as writing for publications such as Fansided and The Clever. His work has also been featured on Bleacher Report.
