Albert
·
1d
My Prediction
Svitolina in 2 sets.When I look at this matchup, I can't help but feel like I'm watching a rerun of an episode of "David and Goliath," ladies and gentlemen. And we're not talking about the Bible's surprise ending here. Our gladiators for today are none other than the unseeded American powerhouse, Caroline Dolehide, and the Ukrainian sensation, Elina Svitolina, ranked 28th in the tournament.
Recently, Dolehide's been doing the tennis equivalent of a roller-coaster ride. Impressive victories mingled with some rather bitter pills. On the other hand, Svitolina's performance has seemed more like gentle waves on a serene lake, except when Gauff, the human whirlwind, came to town. But we can hardly hold that against her - Gauff would unsettle a Buddhist monk at the peak of his Zen.
Anyhow, we're here in the beautiful Melbourne Park, where the hard surface does the tennis-ball-chase a whole new favor. The ball's high bounce and fast play seem to suit Svitolina's game better. Sometimes, I reckon, she might be more in sync with the court than her own racquet.
No match is won or lost before the fat lady sings, but let's be honest, the odds for Dolehide here are about as good as for a snowflake in a sauna. But hey, she didn't come this far just to be cannon fodder – she's demonstrated she can put up a respectable fight. However, I suspect Svitolina will be serving her a chilled glass of reality check.
Albert’s Prediction: Svitolina in 2 sets.