WTA Abu Dhabi Open 2024: Elena Rybakina vs Danielle Collins; Preview, Head-to-Head, Prediction

The Abu Dhabi Open is the tournament that commences the Middle Eastern swing of tennis, which is followed by the Sunshine Doubles. The prize money and the 500 points are rewards that would attract any player. Elena Rybakina, who was seeded for the tournament, will play in the second round against Danielle Collins. 

The Abu Dhabi Open will be followed by the Qatar Open and then the Dubai Championships. A good run in this tournament will help players perform better in the coming Masters tournaments. Hence, both players will be giving it their all.

Elena Rybakina vs Danielle Collins: Preview

Elena Rybakina had one of her best runs in the 2023 season. Coming off of a Wimbledon title in 2022, Rybakina was primed and ready for the 2023 season. She reached the finals of the Australian Open and the Miami Open. She also won the Indian Wells Masters and the Italian Open. Her performance in the first half of the year evoked many in the tennis world to dub her one of the big three of the WTA.

Aside from a slam final, she played till the quarterfinal of the Wimbledon, followed by two semifinals in the Canadian Open and the China Open. The Kazakhstani player began 2024 with a bang by winning the Brisbane International. She entered 2024 ranked 4 but fell to rank 5. She is looking to reclaim her position and climb even higher.

Danielle Collins hasn’t played as well as Rybakina. Collins’ performance at the Australian Open final in 2022 fell short of expectations. She did not advance to the final stages of any majors or Masters, except the Canadian Open quarterfinals. Collins was eliminated at the Brisbane International’s second round in 2024.

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She would later compete at Hobart International, where she was eliminated in the first round. Her performance at the Australian Open in 2024 would be comparable. She lost in the second round to Iga Swiatek and announced her retirement from tennis at the end of 2024. After beating two qualifiers in the Abu Dhabi Open, Collins beat Naomi Osaka in straight sets, even bageling her in the second set.

Rybakina vs Collins: Head-to-Head

Rybakina and Collins have met each other three times on the WTA Tour. Their first match took place in the 2021 Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic. Both players were toe to toe for each point. The match ended with the American player as the winner with the final score, 7-6, 7-6. They wouldn’t play till 2023 when they reached round 32 in Adelaide International.

Rybakina would take revenge for her previous defeat as she won the bout. Collins first appeared to be on the winning path as she won the first set, but Rybakina shut her down in sets 2 and 3, for the final score to be 5-7, 6-2, 6-3. 

Their next meeting would come soon in the 2023 Australian Open. Rybakina would win once again. The Kazakhstani player won the first set, with Collins winning the second set. Rybakina ended her stint in the tournament and went on to play in the championship finals.  

Prediction: Rybakina to achieve a dominating victory

Collins is coming off a great win in the ongoing WTA 500 tournament. However, winning against the WTA number 5 is a different task altogether. The Kazakhstani player has a high likelihood of ending Collins’ stint in the Abu Dhabi Open without a hitch in straight sets. Regardless of the possibilities, their bout will be one to watch, and Collins looks to end her career with a bang.

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