Arina Rodionova - Ekaterina Alexandrova predictions and free betting tips [10/06/2024]

It’s not often that Arina Rodionova competes in WTA-sanctioned events, despite her previous capabilities aligning with "main" tournaments, and her decent performance in doubles. However, her tennis isn't as effective now. In the first round of the WTA 250 in 's-Hertogenbosch, the Australian player of Russian descent will face her former compatriot Ekaterina Alexandrova. Alexandrova, from a different generation, undeniably performs better in singles compared to Rodionova. In 's-Hertogenbosch, the Russian player has won two previous tournaments, making her the reigning champion of the WTA 250 in southern Netherlands.

Arina Rodionova

In my opinion, Arina should stop playing Futures events and focus on the WTA series, where the Australian is yet to win a title.

Last season, Rodionova secured seven ITF trophies, including one on grass. This is a significant achievement for a player whose ranking was quite low before these successes. Now, the Australian can break into the top 100 of the WTA rankings.

This year, Arina started with "main" tournaments, which is the right strategy. However, she did not make any notable progress, except in Brisbane where she defeated Martina Trevisan and Sofia Kenin. In Hua Hin, the Australian reached the quarter-finals. Subsequently, a string of failures pushed Rodionova back to the Futures, where she reached the finals twice but lost to slightly stronger opponents, leading to a disheartening first-round defeat in the Roland-Garros qualifiers.

In Surbiton, Rodionova played two matches on grass. In the first round, she defeated Jessika Ponchet, but chose not to finish her match against a compatriot in the round of 16, possibly due to receiving an invitation to 's-Hertogenbosch. She decided to skip the second round of the ITF to arrive in the Netherlands on time and prepare for the tournament.

The match against Ekaterina Alexandrova is expected to be a power struggle with plenty of flat shots, suiting Rodionova’s playing style. However, her opponent is likely to appear much stronger in this encounter.

Ekaterina Alexandrova

There is no balance in Alexandrova’s technique, which inhibits her from winning top-tier tournaments consistently or maintaining the same level throughout the season. She experiences many slumps, but there are also highs where the Russian player delivers superb performances at certain tournaments.

Last season, Alexandrova excelled on grass, winning the WTA 250 in 's-Hertogenbosch and came close in Berlin (WTA 500), but Petra Kvitova was too good in that tournament. She also performed well at Wimbledon, although keeping up with Aryna Sabalenka was challenging. In Cleveland, the Russian reached the final but lost to Sara Sorribes Tormo, who, despite being known for clay, occasionally performs well on hardcourt too.

This year could have been much more successful had Alexandrova played better against Jeļena Ostapenko in the Adelaide semi-finals and the final of the indoor tournament in Linz. In Miami, she reached the quarterfinals but was outclassed by Danielle Collins. As expected, Alexandrova underperformed on clay, but she excels on grass.

Against Arina Rodionova, it’s crucial for Alexandrova to set her rhythm early and avoid relying on her opponent's mistakes. If the Russian shows good combination play and finishes rallies better, she should easily gain the upper hand in the first set and then see through the match comfortably.

Head-to-Head

In 2018, at the Qatar tournament, the Australian lost to Ekaterina Alexandrova in the first qualifying match.

Prediction: Arina Rodionova vs Ekaterina Alexandrova

Alexandrova needs to play assertively from the outset to win the first set with class and subsequently take the second set gradually, potentially leveraging her serve. My bet: first set, TU 8.5 games. The Russian should win this match with ease.