ROME, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 17: Victoria Azarenka of Belarus plays a forehand in her round two match against Sofia Kenin of The United States during day four of the Internazionali BNL d'Italia at Foro Italico on September 17, 2020 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Angelo Carconi - Pool/Getty Images)
The experienced Victoria Azarenka takes on Argentina’s Nadia Podoroska in the second round of the 2023 Australian Open on Wednesday.
The Belarusian veteran came into the tournament on the back of two wins and two losses this year. In the Adelaide International 1, Azarenka made it to the quarterfinals while at the Adelaide International 2, she crashed out in the first round.
The 24th seed had a tough task on hand in the first round of the 2023 Australian Open. She faced fellow former Australian Open champion, Sofia Kenin. The American star got off to a rollicking start in the first set and took a 3-0 lead. However, Azarenka came back strongly to win 5 consecutive games. The 33-year-old eventually won 6-4 in the first set. The second set turned out to be a very close affair but Azarenka prevailed in the tiebreaker and won the match 6-4, 7-6 (7-3).
The 25-year-old has got off to a fine start at the Australian Open. She completely annihilated Leolia Jeanjean in straight sets 6-0, 6-3 in one hour and fifteen minutes.
Podoroska has reached the second round at the Australian Open for the second time in her career. She has entered the tournament with a protected ranking and would hope to make it to the third round of the Australian Open for the first time in her career.
The head-to-head scoreline currently stands at 0-0 as the two players have never crossed paths as yet.
Prediction: Victoria Azarenka to win in straight sets.
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