Amanda Anisimova vs Aryna Sabalenka Preview & Prediction | 2024 Australian Open | Round of 16
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THE FACTS
When is Amanda Anisimova vs Aryna Sabalenka on and what time does it start? Amanda Anisimova vs Aryna Sabalenka will take place on Sunday 21st January, 2024 – not before 02:00 (UK)
Where is Amanda Anisimova vs Aryna Sabalenka taking place? Amanda Anisimova vs Aryna Sabalenka will take place at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia
What surface is Amanda Anisimova vs Aryna Sabalenka being played on? Amanda Anisimova vs Aryna Sabalenka will take place on an outdoor hard court
Where can I get tickets for Amanda Anisimova vs Aryna Sabalenka? Visit this link for the latest ticket information for Amanda Anisimova vs Aryna Sabalenka
What channel is Amanda Anisimova vs Aryna Sabalenka on in the UK? Amanda Anisimova vs Aryna Sabalenka will be televised live on Eurosport
Where can I stream Amanda Anisimova vs Aryna Sabalenka in the UK? Eurosport subscribers can stream Amanda Anisimova vs Aryna Sabalenka live on their website
THE LOWDOWN
AMANDA ANISIMOVA
Former world number 21 Amanda Anisimova took a break from tennis last spring, citing a number of issues including repairing her mental health, and that looks to have paid off in spades so far in 2024. The 22-year-old entered Melbourne on a protected ranking with little expectation but she has reached the round of 16 without dropping a set, ousting two tough foes in 13th seed Liudmila Samsonova and former number two Paula Badosa. Anisimova is through to the second week in Melbourne for the third time in her young career but her best Grand Slam showing so far remains that stunning semi-final exit at Roland-Garros in 2018.
ARYNA SABALENKA
World number two Aryna Sabalenka is a woman possessed in Melbourne so far, with a double bagel against Lesia Tsurenko on Friday seeing her through to the round of 16 with just six games conceded so far. The defending champion has reached at least the semi-finals in each of her last five Grand Slam campaigns, including in victory here against Elena Rybakina and finishing runner-up to Coco Gauff in new York last year, and she remains a clear title favourite alongside Iga Swiatek whilst the rest of the top seeds crumble around them. Sabalenka became world number one for the first time after out-performing Swiatek at the US Open but she would not be able to surpass the Pole even if she defends her title this fortnight.
THE PREDICTION
This looks like Aryna Sabalenka’s first significant test at the Australian Open. Without heaping too much pressure on the returning Amanda Anisimova, the American holds an incredible 4-1 lead in their head-to-head that suggests that this could end up the match of the day on Sunday. However, Sabalenka won their most recent encounter in the quarter-finals of the Rome Masters back in 2022, and she has improved significantly since then, whilst each of their last four meetings have come on clay – a surface that better suits Anisimova’s skill-set. Anisimova has won at least a set in all five of their encounters to offer an intriguing alternative to the result here but back an imperious Sabalenka to throw the record aside in an outright win.
TIP: ARYNA SABALENKA TO WIN
