Iga Swiatek vs Elena Rybakina Preview & Tips - Swiatek backed for pulsating win over Rybakina

By Ben Darvill

20 Aug 2026

Ben Darvill 20 Aug 2026

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Iga Swiatek is 7-6 up in the head to head between the pair
Swiatek has won her last nine matches
Preview, stats & head to head

Iga Swiatek (Getty Images)

Iga Swiatek vs Elena Rybakina Preview & Tips
Head To Head
Iga Swiatek Form
Elena Rybakina Form

Iga Swiatek vs Elena Rybakina Preview & Tips

Iga Swiatek was able to easily beat Diane Parry in the fourth round of the Cincinnati Open as she secured a 6-3 6-3 triumph.

Elena Rybakina also enjoyed a comfortable win as she eased past Diana Shnaider in a 6-4 6-4 victory.

Swiatek has won 32 matches this season (L12)

Head To Head

The pair have met 13 times before, with Swiatek winning seven matches and Rybakina winning six times. On hard courts, Swiatek leads 6-4.

Iga Swiatek Form

Iga Swiatek faces her first real test at the Cincinnati Open in 2026, with the 25-year-old proving too good for any of her three opponents so far.

A 6-3 6-0 win over Emiliana Arango was followed by a battling 4-6 6-1 6-1 win over Maria Sakkari before her straight-sets win over Diane Parry. While she did lose the first set against Sakkari, her opponent fell apart in the second set which quickly led to Swiatek winning the second and third sets 12-2.

Rybakina has proved a real thorn in Swiatek's side, with the pair returning a near 50/50 record. The duo met earlier in the month, with Swiatek beating Rybakina 6-2 6-3 in the final in Toronto. This brought an end to consecutive wins for Rybakina over Swiatek.

The two players are very well matched, meaning this one will likely be a very tight clash. With Swiatek in good form right now, I am backing her to eliminate Rybakina in a 2-1 win.

Elena Rybakina Form

Elena Rybakina is yet to drop a set at the Cincinnati Open in 2026, with her opening three opponents rarely seeing her tested.

A 6-3 6-4 win over Taylor Townsend was followed by a tighter 6-4 7-6 win over Magdalena Frech. While this was more of a challenge, she was able to get back to easily beating opponents as she eliminated Diana Shnaider 6-4 6-4.

These wins have seen Rybakina move onto 42 wins and 12 defeats in 2026. Rybakina's impressive run means she has every chance of beating Swiatek, while she also boasts 29 wins in 35 hard court matches this year.

I predict that she will have her moments in this match, but Swiatek looks like she is in great form right now, and I back this to see Rybakina eliminated.

Verdict

Iga Swiatek v Elena Rybakina

I am backing Swiatek to eliminate Rybakina in an entertaining 2-1 win.

Swiatek 2-1

Set Betting

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