Tennis acca tips: Iga Swiatek to break Elena Rybakina hoodoo

A WTA 1000 final and three sets of ATP Tour semis take centre stage on Saturday 17 February.

Iga Swiatek will enter Saturday's Qatar Open final on an 11-match winning streak in Doha, having won her last 21 sets at the tournament.

She faces the indomitable Elena Rybakina whom she has only beaten once in four meetings.

 

ATP Rotterdam: Grigor Dimitrov vs Alex De Minaur | Pick: Dimitrov

ATP Rotterdam: Jannik Sinner vs Tallon Griekspoor | Pick: Sinner

ATP Buenos Aires:Facundo Diaz Acosta vs Federico Coria | Pick: Coria

ATP Buenos Aires: Carlos Alcaraz Garfia vs Nicolas Jarry | Pick: Alcaraz

ATP Delray Beach: Tommy Paul vs Frances Tiafoe | Pick: Paul

ATP Delray Beach: Taylor Fritz vs Marcos Giron | Pick: Fritz

WTA Doha: Iga Swiatek vs Elena Rybakina | Pick: Swiatek

 

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ATP Rotterdam: Grigor Dimitrov vs Alex De Minaur

Over their careers, Dimitrov and De Minaur have faced off four times.

At the US Open in 2019, they faced off for the first time and while De Minaur had the advantage in the opening set, Dimitrov never gave up and won the next three sets to seal the victory, 7-5, 6-3, 6-4.

When they reconnected in 2020, De Minaur would exact his vengeance in three sets once more.

This is a tough match to call given both men are in good form but Dimitrov has already won a title this term giving him the edge.

 

ATP Rotterdam: Jannik Sinner vs Tallon Griekspoor

This will be the third time that Jannik Sinner and Tallon Griekspoor play each other.

The head-to-head is 2-0 for Sinner, with both wins coming on indoor hard courts.

Sinner is now a Grand Slam winner but he still needs to be wary of players like Griekspoor.

The Dutchman will be dangerous at this stage of the tournament.

 

ATP Buenos Aires: Facundo Diaz Acosta vs Federico Coria

In the semifinals of the Argentina Open on Saturday, No 87 ranked Facundo Diaz Acosta faces compatriot Federico Coria who is currently No 106 in the world.

Both players have extra motivation to do well at home after near misses last week.

Coria has been installed as the favourite despite being outranked by his countryman.

Coria's experience will be the telling factor in this one and he should go on to a very big final.

 

ATP Buenos Aires: Carlos Alcaraz vs Nicolas Jarry

The other semi-final is blockbuster stuff as one of South America's best takes on the world No 2.

Alcaraz leads Jarry 2-0 in the head-to-head with no sign of that pattern being broken.

He won their previous encounter at the 2023 Wimbledon in four sets.

However, Jarry on grass is a different prospect to facing him on clay where Alcaraz will have the edge in terms of movement.

 

ATP Delray Beach: Tommy Paul vs Frances Tiafoe

Tommy Paul and Frances Tiafoe will square off in the semifinal of the Delray Beach Open in what will be the sixth clash between the Americans.

Tiafoe leads the head-to-head 3-2 but Paul has won their last two meetings to pull things back.

The last win for Tiafoe was in Delray Beach four years ago.

Paul has the edge on 2024 form but Tiafoe will be determined to make a statement.

 

ATP Delray Beach: Taylor Fritz vs Marcos Giron

Delray Beach is guaranteed an American winner with both semi-finals being all home affairs.

Fritz is the defending champion in Delray Beach and will want to protect his status as American No 1.

While Giron isn't a direct threat to his ranking he is playing very well and could hand out an upset.

Fritz leads their head-to-head 6-1 but that solitary win will give Giron a sliver of hope.

 

WTA Doha: Iga Swiatek vs Elena Rybakina

Swiatek and Rybakina have faced off four times at the professional level, with Rybakina winning the last three.

The Pole won their first match in the quarterfinals of Ostrava in 2021, but Rybakina made a major statement about her danger level to Swiatek in 2023 by winning three consecutive matches and claiming wins on the big stage.

In their last two meetings, which took place on outdoor hard courts last year in the Indian Wells semifinals and the Australian Open's fourth round, Rybakina triumphed in straight sets.

They have not clashed since Rybakina won the Rome quarterfinals in May of last year when Swiatek withdrew with a thigh injury in the third set at 2-2.