Elena Rybakina vs. Elina Svitolina
A year ago at Wimbledon, taking inspiration from her role as a representative of war-ravaged Ukraine, Svitolina beat Iga Swiatek and made the semifinals. Over the past week, she has thrust herself back in the same role. Donning a black ribbon after a recent Russian attack on a Kyiv hospital, Svitolina has rallied to play her best tennis of the season so far, beating two-time finalist Ons Jabeur and dropping just one set in four matches.
To keep going, Svitolina will likely need to dig even deeper. With Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka, and Coco Gauff out, Rybakina has inherited the mantle as the tournament favorite. She’s the highest-ranked player left in the draw, and the only one who has won Wimbledon. She’s also ranked 17 spots higher than Svitolina.
WATCH: Elina Svitolina delivers stirring remarks for Ukraine on court at Wimbledon
The Kazakh and the Ukrainian are 2-2 lifetime; Rybakina won their most recent meeting, 6-4, 6-3, at Roland Garros a month ago. That win came on clay, and grass should help her her superior serve and all-around power even more.
“She strikes the ball very big,” Svitolina says of Rybakina. “I think it’s quite obvious that she has a big serve. She tries to take on straightaway with the big shots from the baseline….That’s what I will expect and try to make her feel uncomfortable.”
More so than her tactics, it will be the emotions that Svitolina brings to Centre Court that will be key in this match. They were enough to get her across the finish line against Swiatek last year, but it might be an even tougher ask against this opponent, at this tournament. Winner: Rybakina
