Elina Svitolina – Varvara Grachova. Prediction and announcement for the WTA 250 in Auckland

On January 5, Elina Svitolina (WTA 14) – Varvara Grachova (WTA 76) will meet in the first round of the tournament in Oakland.

The match will start at 02:00 Kyiv time.

Sport.ua together with the La Liga betting partner betting announces the upcoming match!

Elina Svitolina

The first racket of Ukraine spent the last season without phenomenal success, won the tournament in Rouen, reached the quarterfinals at the majors in Australia and France. In general, Svitolina showed good tennis, she even managed to climb nine positions in the ranking.

In December, the athlete held two exhibition meetings, which consisted of one set. First, she beat strong countrywoman Marta Kostyuk – 7:5, and then Magda Lynette – 6:2. Judging by the publications in social networks, Elina tried to combine family life and preparation for the season, I think she will be in good shape. In Oakland, the Ukrainian is seeded first, so we have to fight for the title.

Varvara Grachova

Since 2020, the tennis player with a French passport has consistently finished the season in the top 100. Grachova has not yet won WTA tournaments, last season the athlete won 34 matches out of 62, but lost ten positions in the ranking.

In the last season, the tennis player showed herself at one tournament, it is about Cincinnati, where she managed to reach the quarterfinals, starting with the qualification. The player is 25 years old, it is definitely not worth recording her as a promising player, she is a solid middle player who can perform at a certain tournament, however, I do not expect much progress from her. In 2023, still performing under the Russian flag, she lost in the finals of the tournament in Austin to Ukrainian Marty Kostyuk, then the rivals refused to shake hands and take photos together.

Personal meetings

Previously, tennis players crossed paths twice, in both cases they played in France, on clay courts. Svitolina won both matches in two sets, although there was a struggle in those games.

Forecast

The Ukrainian tennis player looks like the favorite of this pair, she is higher in the rating, has more experience, and the advantage in face-to-face confrontations is also important. It is still difficult to determine who is in which form, but according to her individual qualities, Svitolina is better, which must be shown on the court.

I think that here you can take the victory of the Ukrainian woman with a handicap of -4.5 games for 1.71.