Paula Badosa vs Aryna Sabalenka Preview & Prediction | 2024 French Open | Third Round
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This should be a good-natured but intense battle between good friends off the court.
START DATE/TIME: Friday 31st May 2024, UK – not before 12:15 / US EST – not before 07:15 / US PST – not before 04:15
VENUE: Roland Garros Stadium, Paris, France
SURFACE: Outdoor clay
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Eurosport / US – NBC, Peacock and Tennis Channel
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – discovery+ / US – NBC, Peacock and Tennis Channel
TICKETS: Visit this link for the latest Paula Badosa vs Aryna Sabalenka ticket information
PAULA BADOSA VS ARYNA SABALENKA PREDICTION
World number two Aryna Sabalenka and former number two Paula Badosa are firm friends off the court but they cannot seem to stop drawing each other on it, with this their third meeting this season. 26-year-old Sabalenka has won both occasions, and each of their last four overall, to lead their head-to-head 4-2 as things stand but Badosa, also 26, is the more natural clay-courter of the two.
Sabalenka leads 3-0 on the surface but it is notable that they did not meet on clay during Badosa’s peak in 2021 and two of those three results saw sets go both ways, including most recently at the Stuttgart Open in April before Badosa was forced to retire injured.
The second seed is clearly the favourite after finishing runner-up to Iga Swiatek at both Masters events in Madrid and Rome but Badosa has come back from sets down twice to battle past Katie Boulter and Yulia Putintseva, building on some encouraging – and more importantly injury free – tennis at the Italian Open last time out.
The suitably cautious call is backing Sabalenka to win outright but you could consider the three-set option as a one off here.
PAULA BADOSA VS ARYNA SABALENKA TIP: ARYNA SABALENKA TO WIN
