Maria Sakkari vs. Elina Svitolina prediction and betting tips — October 5, 2026
Beijing, China
On October 5, Maria Sakkari and Elina Svitolina will meet in the third round of the prestigious tennis tournament in Beijing. Here is my betting pick for the upcoming match.
Maria Sakkari
The experienced Greek is well known to tennis fans. She was once a member of the top 10 and currently sits 33rd in the rankings. Sakkari has not won any titles this season, with her best results being a final in Athens and a semifinal
The Greek started her Beijing campaign in the second round, where she defeated Australia’s Storm Hunter in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2. In terms of the bare numbers, Sakkari has climbed 19 places compared with the start of the year and has played 29 matches on hard courts, winning 18 of them. When Sakkari is mentioned, people immediately think of her fighting spirit, athleticism and experience. She certainly is not afraid to take on any opponent on court.
Elina Svitolina
Ukraine’s top-ranked player has plenty to be proud of this season: she won the tournament in Auckland and the prestigious WTA 1000 event in Rome. Svitolina has comfortably remained in the world’s top 10 and is currently ranked seventh. Together with her national team, she reached the final of the Billie Jean King Cup, where they lost to the Czech Republic.
The Ukrainian also began her Beijing campaign in the second round, facing experienced Czech player Katerina Siniakova. Svitolina struggled in the opening set, losing 1-6, then narrowly took the second, 6-4, before finally wearing down her opponent, 6-2. The Ukrainian is renowned for her consistency and mental resilience, and she is capable of turning any match around.
Head-to-head
The players know each other well, having met five times, with Svitolina leading 3-2. Their most recent encounter took place last year at the Madrid tournament, where the Ukrainian won in straight sets.
Match prediction
I expect an intriguing battle between two renowned tennis players who certainly have no shortage of experience or skill. Svitolina is the favorite: she is higher-ranked and has enjoyed a better and more consistent season. The Greek should be able to put up a fight at the very least, making over 19.5 total games an appealing bet.
