Saturday's tennis acca tips: Auckland Classic and Brisbane International picks

The elite tour action this weekend is split across Brisbane and Auckland, with two WTA events and a single ATP Tour engagement going down this week alongside the United Cup.

In all three tournaments, the current favourites are top ten stars on a roll who will be tough to stop.

Holger Rune is looking hot in Brisbane as he seeks to start his year off with a title, having escaped the grasp of the Danish winter.

In Auckland, Coco Gauff has set her sights on defending the Auckland Classic title, which sparked her incredible 2023 season into life.

Meanwhile, on the WTA side of the draw in Brisbane, it is world No 2 Aryna Sabalenka who looks like the unstoppable force, but she may have to contend with one of her fiercest rivals in the final with Elena Rybakina also looking good in Brisbane as she seeks to improve on an outstanding 2023 Australian Open season.

 

ATP Brisbane: Holger Rune vs Roman Safiullin | Pick: Rune

ATP Brisbane: Jordan Thompson vs Grigor Dimitrov | Pick: Dimitrov

WTA Auckland: Cori Gauff vs Emma Navarro | Pick: Gauff

WTA Auckland:Xiyu Wang vs Elina Svitolina | Pick: Svitolina

WTA Brisbane: Linda Noskova vs Elena Rybakina | Pick: Rybakina

WTA Brisbane: Aryna Sabalenka vs Victoria Azarenka | Pick: Sabalenka

 

ATP Brisbane: Holger Rune vs Roman Safiullin

This will be the first meeting between these two men in singles competition, but they were recently on opposing ends of the court during the doubles competition.

Holger Rune has been a picture of confidence all week, coming through in the clutch to win his semi-final in straight sets.

Safiullin has shown off his power but hasn't been as precise and, as a result, has spent nearly two hours longer on court this week.

At this stage of the season, neither man is likely to be fatigued, and this could be an incredible display of power tennis, but Rune will have the quality to come through.

 

 

ATP Brisbane: Jordan Thompson vs Grigor Dimitrov 

Jordan Thompson is flying the flag for Australia as the last remaining home hope on either side of the draw.

Thompson takes on Grigor Dimitrov after seeing off Rafael Nadal in three sets in the quarter-finals.

Dimitrov should be able to take advantage of that win both from a physical and mental point of view.

The Bulgarian will want to start well, given his opponent might struggle to get up for the follow-up after a big win.

 

WTA Auckland: Coco Gauff vs Emma Navarro 

It's an all-American semi-final as Coco Gauff takes on compatriot Emma Navarro for a place in the Auckland Classic final.

While Navarro is older than Gauff, it is the 2023 US Open champion who has the edge in big-match experience.

Navarro played 88 matches in her 2023 season, grinding away at WTA 125 and 250 level to reach a career-high No 31 in the rankings.

However, Gauff is on a superstar trajectory, and her far more impressive 2023 win ratio in fewer matches clearly shows why she is the world No. 3 and a pick for more Grand Slam glory.

 

WTA Auckland: Xiyu Wang vs Elina Svitolina

While Elina Svitolina hasn't been tested to the fullest during her Auckland run, she faces a player who has proven tough to beat in the semi-finals.

Xiyu Wang has won a trio of three-setters and spent over eight hours on court this week.

However, during Xiyu's run to the last four, she hasn't encountered a player of Svitolina's calibre.

Her world No 25 ranking aside, Svitolina is playing like a top ten star right now and will be the favourite to reach the final, where she could take on Gauff in what organisers would consider a dream championship match.

 

WTA Brisbane: Linda Noskova vs Elena Rybakina 

Elena Rybakina will be out to repeat her straightforward 2023 French Open win over Linda Noskova on a surface far more suited to her own game.

Rybakina should have a significant edge in power and shotmaking in this one, and it is hard to see how Noskova could make an impact.

The only person who can stop Rybakina from reaching the final is herself but she hasn't shown any signs of slipping.

Rybakina hasn't been tested all week and might even benefit from the workout of a three-setter, but this match won't go that far.

 

WTA Brisbane: Aryna Sabalenka vs Victoria Azarenka 

Aryna Sabalenka vs Victoria Azarenka is tougher to call as compatriots and former world No 1s slug it out.

Sabalenka has surpassed Azarenka as the Belarusian No 1, but that doesn't mean her opponent will go gentle into that good night.

Azarenka is always dangerous in Australia, where she has achieved so much success.

However, considering Sabalenka's winning streak in the country, she is the one who will likely move forward to the championship match at the WTA 500 Brisbane International.