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Run through our Azarenka Australian Open 2023 predictions presented right here.
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Victoria Azarenka Australian Open 2023 Odds
Veteran Azarenka is the only woman left in the 2023 Australian Open that has actually won this title before. The Belarusian is making strong comeback from prolonged period of absence. She had strong 2022 and it seems she’s about to make a great start to the new year too. She’s marching strong so far in the 2023 Australian Open and entering the second week of the tournament her experience can’t be underestimated. Here are the current outright odds:
Clearly Azarenka has made her claim on the title with her quarterfinal win against a top 3 player. She would like the fact that despite all that she again enters her semifinal as the underdog. This lifts lots of pressure off her shoulders.
Upcoming match vs Rybakina – Azarenka Australian Open 2023
Azarenka’s confidence is growing with each win she achieves. The only woman to actually win it all in Australia, she has done that twice in 2012 and 2013, also have the experience to help her.
In the semifinal she faces the Kazakh Rybakina. The two sit next to each other in the world standings – Azarenka is 24th, while Rybakina 25th. Also both knocked out title-favourites, Rybakina beat Swiatek, while Azarenka demolished Pegula, to reach this far. That’s why we believe the coming matchup will be a very close affair. Both players have already won Grand Slams too, Rybakina is the current Wimbledon champion, so they both know what it takes to reach a Slam final.
The only previous meeting between the two was last year on the hard courts of Indian Wells and Rybakina won easily in straight sets.
With that in mind we think the Kazakh has a slight edge in this duel. That said Azarenka is a veteran that only just showed in her win against Pegula that if allowed to hit hard ground shots she can beat anyone. Our bellief is that the first set of this matchup will be decisive and whoever wins it will likely win the duel.
Azarenka 2023 Australian Open Results
- Azarenka vs Kenin – Won – 6-4, 7-6 (3) (2023 Australian Open 1st Round)
- Azarenka vs Podoroska – Won – 6-1, 6-0 (2023 Australian Open 2nd Round)
- Azarenka vs Keys – Won – 1-6, 6-2, 6-1 (2023 Australian Open 3rd Round)
- Azarenka vs Zhu – Won – 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 (2023 Australian Open 4th Round)
- Azarenka vs Pegula – Won – 6-4, 6-1 (2023 Australian Open quarterfinal)
The mockery of the draw saw Azarenka facing in round 1 the only other player in this year’s women’s tournament that had actually won the Australian Open before. The battle between the ex-champions was tight but Azarenka deservedly won both sets to eliminate Kenin.
She then breezed past her round 2 opponent, dropping just 1 game. This performance put everyone on alert, with Azarenka clearly back to a fine form and playing some dominant tennis.
In round 3 she was up against the 10th seed American Keys. Azarenka lost the first set badly, but then her experience and powerful ground strokes saw her literally blow off the court one of the better players out there on way to a 6-2, 6-1 triumphs in sets 2 and 3.
Then in round 4 Azarenka was off to another slow start and she lost set 1 against the world number 84 Zhu. However, just like against Keys she switched on to another gear after that and won the next 2 sets convincingly.
It seems wit each passing round Azarenka’s self-belief is growing and she offered her best performance so far in the quarterfinal against the world number 3 Pegula. With powerful ground strokes, precise returns and accurate serves Azarenka won in straight sets, dropping just 5 games. Unlike in her previous 2 matches when she dropped the first set Azarenka was off to a flying start in this one and quickly build 3:0 lead, which was enough for set 1. She only got better in set 2, dropping just 1 game against a top class opponent. This was impressive performance worthy of an ex-champion. It showed everyone that Azarenka is on the comeback trail and she can sniff another Grand Slam final after gap of 7 years.
Azarenka Injury update: Looking fully fit
Azarenka looked as fit as ever so far. She has never been a fast player, but she has a great reach and has been covering the entire court with great efficiency up to now. Tiredness can’t be an issue either with Azarenka winning fast once she gets going.
Azarenka Past Australian Open Results
Azarenka has been part of the Women’s Australian Open main draw 14 times before. She was the champion back in 2012 and 2103, those her only 2 Grand Slam titles. She also reached the quarterfinals on 3 other occasions, the most recent one in 2016.
In recent years the combination of her taking time off the tour to become a mother and a series of injuries saw her miss 3 of the last 6 Australian Opens. She also lost in the opening rounds in 2019 and 2021, but last year she made it into round 4 before suffering an unfortunate defeat.
This has been Azarenka’s best Grand Slam in her illustrious career. She has over 80% win ratio for her matches in Melbourne over the years – 45 wins to just 12 defeats.
Azarenka Australian Open 2023 Prediction – semifinals or final
Due to her low ranking Azarenka was handed a very tough side of the draw. She already had to beat a tough top 10 player in Keys, but things will only get tougher from now on. As we expected she beat Zhu and make it to the quarterfinals for the first time in 7 years.
There she produced her best tennis so far to dismantle the number 3 seed Pegula in straight sets. Impressive all-around display in this match puts Azarenka under the spotlights again as she’s clearly a woman on the comeback trail and one hungry for first Grand Slam triumph in 10 years. The re-energised Azarenka will fancy her chances in the semifinal against Rybakina, but it won’t be easy.
With that in mind we think Azarenka’s run will end either in the semifinals, or she will make it all the way to the final where her Belarusian compatriot Sabalenka will likely beat her.
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