World No. 12, Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan, and the number 12 seed, will take on Shuai Zhang of China, the world number 74, in the second round of the 2022 Australian Open on Thursday, January 20. Get the live streaming options of this Elena Rybakina v Shuai Zhang match along with its preview, head-to-head, and tips here.
Looking to watch the 2022 Australian Open live streaming online?
- For tennis fans in the Europe & elsewhere go to bet365 > Tennis > Live Streaming here* to watch & bet on the ATP & WTA tennis live.
*Live streaming T&Cs:
You can watch live sport on your mobile, tablet or desktop including Soccer, Tennis and Basketball. All you need is a funded account or to have placed a bet in the last 24 hours to qualify.
- Want to Bet on This Match? Sign up with Unibet Here & Get Exciting Bonus & Awesome Odds
[the_ad id=”43630″]
Elena Rybakina v Shuai Zhang Head to Head
The pair have played each other twice before, both matches taking place in 2020 and both resulting in straight set victories for Rybakina. She beat Zhang on Australian soil in Hobart, and then again in Strasbourg.
Also Read:
Rybakina Saves Match Point Against Compatriot
Rybakina faced a familiar foe in her first round match in Melbourne in the form of fellow Kazakhstan player Zarina Diyas, the world number 104.
It proved to be a close battle, at least for the first two sets.
The seed made the stronger start, breaking Diyas in the third game of the match, only to be broken herself several games later.
Both women had to save break points and Diyas faced a set point, but with nothing decided, it went to a tie-break.
There both women struggled to hold serve, but Rybakina proved the more fallible, and it was Diyas who claimed the set.
Rybakina made a strong start to the second set, breaking Diyas in the opening game, but she could not hold on to her advantage, and it was soon back on serve again.
In the eleventh game Rybakina forced four break points, could not convert any of them, and almost paid the ultimate price as she faced match point in the next game.
Again, it went to a tie-break, but this time it was Diyas who made the errors on serve, and the match was level.
The confidence of Diyas seemed to evaporate after that, and Rybakina was able to cruise through the third set, dropping just one game. She broke her opponent twice whilst her own serve was never under pressure.
[the_ad id=”30344″]
Zhang Eases into the Second Round
By contrast, Zhang was able to make a much more serene passage into the second round , even if she was facing a tougher opponent, at least on paper, in the shape of Viktorija Golubic of Switzerland, the world number 40.
Although Zhang was the first to face a break point on her own serve, she saved it and then broke the Swiss next game.
Golubic saved three set points on her own serve, but could not prevent Zhang converting the fourth in her next service game.
When Zhang broke again early in the second set, it looked like the writing was on the wall for Golubic. She gave herself hope by breaking back immediately, only to once again drop her serve.
There was no way back for her after that, Zhang sealing the win with her fourth match point.
Rybakina v Zhang Prediction and Tip
Rybakina has won both of their previous to matches without dropping a set, and, after surviving a scare in her first round match, will be keen to advance to the third round.
Tip: Rybakina to win in straight sets: 8/11 (Click Here to Bet with bet365)
[the_ad id=”30513″]
The 2022 Australian will be played from January 17 to 30. You can watch & bet on these matches here. Get your latest premium tennis predictions here.
Be the first to comment