Women’s Olympic Tennis Semi-Final – Belinda Bencic vs Elena Rybakina Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is Belinda Bencic vs Elena Rybakina taking place? Belinda Bencic vs Elena Rybakina will take place on Thursday 29th July, 2021 at (not before) 07:00 (UK)
Where is Belinda Bencic vs Elena Rybakina taking place? Belinda Bencic vs Elena Rybakina will take place at Ariake Tennis Park in Tokyo
What surface is Belinda Bencic vs Elena Rybakina played on? Belinda Bencic vs Elena Rybakina will be played on hard courts
Where can I get tickets for Belinda Bencic vs Elena Rybakina? There are no tickets for Belinda Bencic vs Elena Rybakina as Olympic Tennis will take place without spectators.
What TV channel is Belinda Bencic vs Elena Rybakina on in the UK? Olympic coverage is shared between BBC and Eurosport so it is worth checking their schedules for Belinda Bencic vs Elena Rybakina
Where can I stream Belinda Bencic vs Elena Rybakina in the UK? If Belinda Bencic vs Elena Rybakina is televised on BBC then it can be streamed live on the BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website & app. If Belinda Bencic vs Elena Rybakina is televised on Eurosport then subscribers can stream the match live on Eurosport Player
THE PREDICTION
World number 12 Belinda Bencic must be taken seriously at Tokyo 2020 as the Swiss came in with relatively little form, at least by her standards, and she has blown away her opponents. Having beaten the most in-form woman on tour Barbora Krejcikova in the round of 16, Roland-Garros champion, Bencic completed the set by ousting Roland-Garros runner-up Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova on Wednesday - both in three sets. The 24-year-old is also going well in the Women’s Doubles alongside Viktorija Golubic and that will help her rather than hinder as she edges ever closer to the medal finals.
In her way is world number 20 Elena Rybakina who has quietly gone about a stunning campaign in her section of the draw. The 22-year-old Kazakh already has two WTA titles to her name and she has reached the round of 16 at least in each of her last four tournaments. Rybakina shocked world number nine Garbine Muguruza in straight sets on Wednesday to make it four matches without dropping a set at Tokyo 2020 and she must not be underestimated by Bencic in this first meeting between the two. This looks like a really tough call. Bencic’s performances have been the more entertaining but Rybakina’s stealthy approach towards the medal finals is equally impressive. Take both players to win a set here and leave the winner up to chance.
