Aryna Sabalenka (WTA - Twitter)
5th seed Aryna Sabalenka locks horns with America’s Shelby Rogers in the second round of the 2023 Australian Open on Thursday.
The world No. 5 has had a great start to the season. She won her first title in almost two years by going the distance at the Adelaide International 1. She bagged her 11th WTA title without dropping a set. In the finals, she defeated 18-year-old Linda Noskova, who had a great run from the qualifiers to reach the finals.
Sabalenka began her campaign at the Australian Open by facing Tereza Martincova of the Czech Republic. The in-form Sabalenka won the match comprehensively in straight sets 6-1, 6-4. She was lethal on her serves and had a win percentage of 87.
The 30-year-old has played a couple of tournaments so far in 2022. She reached the main draw at the Adelaide International 1 by winning a couple of qualifying matches but lost in the first round to Irina-Camelia Begu. Rogers qualified to the main draw at the Adelaide International 2 as well but once again lost in the first round, this time to Qinwen Zheng.
In the first round of the Australian Open, Rogers faced Arianne Hartono of the Netherlands. The world No. 51 produced a solid performance to win the match 6-4, 6-3. Rogers hit 6 aces and had a win percentage of 81 on the first serve.
The head-to-head scoreline currently stands at 2-0 in favor of Aryna Sabalenka. The Belarusian star won her most recent encounter against Rogers at the 2022 Western & Southern Open in three sets.
Prediction: Aryna Sabalenka to win in straight sets.
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