



Tennis fans won’t be bored in the coming days as the Australian Open is in full swing. Here’s my analysis and prediction for the match between Elena Rybakina and Emerson Jones. Will there be a real contest?
Elena Rybakina
The Kazakhstani player is considered one of the strongest in the world. When Rybakina is in top form, she can defeat any opponent. Last season, she won three tournaments, although consistency was a challenge.
At 25 years old, Rybakina recently changed her coach, partnering with renowned specialist Goran Ivanisevic, who previously worked with Novak Djokovic. This season, she represented Kazakhstan at the United Cup, where she convincingly defeated Spain's Buzas Maneiro, Greece's Sakkari, and Germany's Siegemund, all in straight sets. Her only loss came in the final match against the formidable Swiatek, with scores of 6-7, 4-6.
Emerson Jones
The young Australian is seen as a future star, though she still has to realize her potential. Jones received a wildcard entry into this tournament, allowing her to skip the qualification rounds.
Currently ranked 371st in the world, the 16-year-old has already shown flashes of talent. This season, she played in Adelaide, where she sensationally defeated the world No. 37, Wang Xinyu, 6-4, 6-0, before putting up a fight against world No. 9 Daria Kasatkina, losing 5-7, 3-6. Matches like these, against top players, are invaluable for gaining experience. She will aim to create as many problems as possible for her opponent.
Match Facts
- Rybakina has won three of her four matches this season.
- Jones has played two matches this year, winning one.
- Odds for this match are: Rybakina 1.04, Jones 11.5.
Head-to-Head
This will be the first meeting between the two, which is unsurprising given the Australian’s young age.
Prediction
Bookmakers see little suspense in this matchup, with Rybakina as the clear favorite—a view that’s hard to dispute. While Jones may face psychological challenges, she has the potential to deliver a respectable performance in front of her home crowd. My prediction is for the Australian to cover a +7 game handicap.