Italian Open 2023: Svitolina vs. Tsurenko Tennis Prediction & Pick

TennisSection previews the 2023 Italian Open first-round match featuring Elina Svitolina vs. Lesia Tsurenko on Wednesday, May 10, 2023.

Elina Svitolina vs. Lesia Tsurenko Preview

Will Elina Svitolina get her first WTA win since returning from maternity at this year’s Italian Open in Rome? The former champion faces compatriot Lesia Tsurenko in the first round. Who will prevail?

Elina Svitolina enters this year’s Italian Open with a protected ranking. Currently ranked 540th in the world, Svitolina had been absent for over a year, taking a maternity break, and only returned to action last month in Charleston. She is yet to taste a Tour-level win, losing both first-round matches at the 500-event in South Carolina and in Madrid. But she’s piled up a few wins at the ITF and WTA 125K level, reaching the semifinal in Saint-Malo this past week where she lost to eventual champion Sloane Stephens.

Lesia Tsurenko has shown some fantastic courage and resilience in getting herself up to speed with the rigors of the Tour level. The 33-year-old has worked her way into the top 100, reaching 68th in the rankings coming to the Italian Open in Rome. Tsurennko has tallied 23 wins across all competitions this year and comes off a third-round showing in Madrid two weeks ago.

Elina Svitolina vs. Lesia Tsurenko Prediction and Pick

Elina Svitolina leads Lesia Tsurenko 2-1 in their head-to-head, but have only played once on the WTA Tour. That was six years ago in Cincinnati where Svitolina won in straight sets. We expect a slugfest here as we know just how slow these courts are and how physically demanding it is to beat Svitolina on the dirt. Svitolina may be short on match sharpness, as she is clearly trying to pick up her game, but she has been tough to put away. In nine matches played, only twice has Svitolina lost in straight sets. We are looking at the sets spread here.