Victoria Azarenka vs. Aryna Sabalenka – Prediction – WTA Ostrava (Czech Republic) 25.10.2020

H2H: Victoria Azarenka v Aryna Sabalenka – comparison.

Both of the pair’s previous encounters came at the US Open. Last year, Sabalenka rallied from a set down to expel her countrywoman in the first round of that tournament. Azarenka managed to avenge that loss a few weeks ago, winning 6-1, 6-3 in the second round as part of her career’s fifth run to the final of a Grand Slam.

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Victoria Azarenka stormed into her milestone 40th career final after sailing past Maria Sakkari, 6-1, 6-3. Although she faced a serious pushback from the Greek player in the second set, the fourth seed did little wrong in an hour and 36 minutes, winning 82% behind her first serve and posting an even 16 winners and 15 unforced errors. Azarenka started the week with a set loss to Barbora Krejcikova but has since won all six sets, including beating seventh seed Elise Mertens, 6-4, 6-1. Overall, she has dropped just 18 games en route to the championship round and has a real opportunity to overtake Jennifer Brady’s 2020 record of the most efficient title run (24).

Just two months ago, it was difficult to imagine that Azarenka will finish the season inside the top 15. Since returning from her maternity break, the former world no. 1 had never gone higher than the 38th position of the ranking (July 2019). Furthermore, she hadn’t won a match since last year’s Cincinnati Premier-five outing.In her last five tournaments, including Ostrava, Azarenka has managed to claim 18 match wins. They include a couple of trips to finals at Flushing Meadows; She won her 21st career title and the first since 2016 at W&S Open via Naomi Osaka’s withdrawal but finished runner-up to the Japanese player at the subsequent US Open.

Aryna Sabalenka defied the odds to stun this year’s US Open semifinalist Jennifer Brady, prevailing 6-4, 6-4 to book WTA history’s first all-Belarusian final. Over the course of 75 minutes, the third seed overpowered the reigning Lexington champion in winners (23 to 15) while not exceeding her opponent in unforced errors (20 to 21). Sabalenka’s road to the final could not be more stark than Azarenka, scripting two improbable comebacks in early rounds. She trailed Gauff, whom she had lost to at Lexington, by 2-5 in the third set before winning 1-6, 7-5, 7-6. It was followed by a 0-6, 0-4 deficit against Sorribes Tormo, ultimately beating the Spaniard, 0-6, 6-4, 6-0.

Sabalenka has played a whole lot of tennis this week. Apart from singles, she has also won three matches in doubles with Elise Mertens, including being pushed to a match tiebreak twice, to reach the final in that discipline. She dealt with injury issues, taking medical time outs in her first two rounds for blisters on both of her feet. While Azarenka got her trophy in 2020 by a walkover, Sabalenka had to beat Kvitova, 6-3, 6-3, to earn hers at Doha. Courtesy that victory over the Czech, the 22-year-old’s career record in finals stands at a respectable 6-4. However, she is yet to lift a title on European soil, being the runner-up at Eastbourne and Lugano in 2018.

Match Info and Live Scores.