Mirra Andreeva vs Elena-Gabriela Ruse Tips, Prediction & Live Stream - Andreeva to cover & reach R16

Andrew Hendrie

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Last updated: Thu 22 Jan 2026 23:22

Andrew Hendrie 22 Jan 2026

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Mirra Andreeva vs Elena-Gabriela Ruse predictions for Friday's Australian Open R3
Andreeva on fire with a six-match winning streak, covering a -5.5 line every time
Ruse has never been beyond R3 of a slam
The match is scheduled to start around 9.00pm AEDT on Friday January 23

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Mirra Andreeva (Photo by Getty Images)

Mirra Andreeva vs Elena-Gabriela Ruse Tips, Prediction & Live Stream

Mirra Andreeva will be looking to continue her red-hot form when she meets the unseeded Elena-Gabriela Ruse in the third round of the Australian Open on Friday night.

Mirra Andreeva vs Elena-Gabriela Ruse Tips, Prediction & Live Stream
Andreeva vs Ruse Stats & Trends
Andreeva vs Ruse Head To Head
Mirra Andreeva Form Analysis
Elena-Gabriela Ruse Form Analysis
Andreeva vs Ruse Live Stream

It's been a stellar start to the season for Andreeva, with the teenage sensation looking to have recovered from a tough end to 2025 and ready to challenge the best players in the world for Grand Slam glory here at the Australian Open. The 18-year-old is currently riding a six-match winning streak after claiming the Adelaide title last week and she's been dominant in her opening two matches, dispatching two very capable players in Donna Vekic and Maria Sakkari - both former Grand Slam semi-finalists. Meanwhile, Ruse has played well to reach her first ever third round in Melbourne, taking out the erratic Dayana Yastremska (another former AO semi-finalist) before taking care of local hope Ajla Tomljanovic.

It's been a good tournament for Ruse, but I think it comes to an end in emphatic fashion here. Andreeva looks in a mood and for me, Ruse just doesn't have the weapons or firepower to trouble here. Andreeva has already dropped bagel sets on Sakkari and Vekic and honestly, it wouldn't surprise me if she did it again. Backing the Russian to cover a -5.5 games line, with a small stake on the first set bagel.

Andreeva vs Ruse Stats & Trends

Andreeva is on a six-match winning streak
Andreeva has covered a -5.5 games line in all of those six victories
Andreeva has won sets 6-0 vs Vekic & Sakkari in her opening two rounds this tournament
Andreeva has won 15 of her last 19 Grand Slam matches vs players outside the top 50
Ruse has a 2-7 record vs top 10 players & failed to cover a +5.5 line in five of those defeats
Ruse has never been beyond the third round of a Grand Slam
Ruse has lost sets by a 6-0 or 6-1 score four times vs top 10 players

Andreeva vs Ruse Head To Head

This will be the first career meeting between the pair.

Mirra Andreeva Form Analysis

2026 Record: 8-1
2025 Record: 40-16
Australian Open Record: 8-2
Grand Slam Record: 30-11
Current Ranking: No. 7
Career-High Ranking: No. 5 (2025)

Andreeva showed last season that her peak level is already sufficient to dismantle the elite of the WTA Tour, producing landmark wins over Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina during WTA 1000 title runs in Dubai and Indian Wells.

As she moves into 2026, the central challenge remains consistency. Translating that peak level into week-to-week reliability is the final hurdle, but if she clears it, sustained contention for major titles becomes a realistic outcome.

Momentum dipped during the latter part of 2025, with fluctuating form and injury interruptions denying the 18-year-old a place in the WTA Finals singles field and restricting her to just four match wins after Wimbledon.

She has answered those setbacks emphatically in the new season, reaching the quarter-finals in Brisbane before producing a commanding title run in Adelaide last week. Andreeva did not drop more than three games in any set, accounting for Maya Joint, Diana Shnaider and Victoria Mboko along the way.

Her Australian Open campaign opened with a stern examination against former Wimbledon semi-finalist Donna Vekic, yet Andreeva responded with authority, rebounding from a set down and reeling off the final seven games to secure a 4-6 6-3 6-0 victory. Andreeva then picked up from where she left off in the second round, sweeping the opening eight games against Maria Sakkari, completing a 6-0 6-4 demolition

Elena-Gabriela Ruse Form Analysis

2026 Record: 2-2
2025 Record: 13-15
Australian Open Record: 4-2
Grand Slam Record: 8-12
Current Ranking: No. 79
Career-High Ranking: No. 51 (2022)

It was a decent opening half of 2025 for Ruse as she made the third round of Miami, the semi-finals of Rouan and made the final from qualifying in s-Hertogenbosch.

However, it all went downhill from there, with Ruse going on a seven-match losing streak as her ranking took a big tumble.

The Romanian was forced to drop down to ITF level in a bid to restore some form and confidence - and the move paid dividends, with Ruse taking out the 75k title in Trnava in her final tournament of the year.

Clearly that form has translated into the new season, with Ruse putting together her best ever run at the Australian Open to reach the the third round.

The 28-year-old upset 26th seed Dayana Yastremska 6-4 7-5 in the opening round before backing it up with a 6-4 6-4 victory over Ajla Tomljanovic.