Sofia Kenin vs Victoria Azarenka – First Round – Preview & Prediction | 2023 Australian Open
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
THE FACTS
When is Sofia Kenin vs Victoria Azarenka on and what time does it start? Sofia Kenin vs Victoria Azarenka will take place on Monday 16th January, 2023 – not before 03:15 (UK)
Where is Sofia Kenin vs Victoria Azarenka taking place? Sofia Kenin vs Victoria Azarenka will take place at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia
What surface is Sofia Kenin vs Victoria Azarenka being played on? Sofia Kenin vs Victoria Azarenka will take place on an outdoor hard court
Where can I get tickets for Sofia Kenin vs Victoria Azarenka? Visit this link for the latest ticket information for Sofia Kenin vs Victoria Azarenka
What channel is Sofia Kenin vs Victoria Azarenka on in the UK? Sofia Kenin vs Victoria Azarenka will be televised live on Eurosport
Where can I stream Sofia Kenin vs Victoria Azarenka in the UK? Eurosport subscribers can stream Sofia Kenin vs Victoria Azarenka live on their website, while Sky Sports subscribers can stream the match live on Sky Go
THE LOWDOWN
This promises to be one of the, if not the, best first round clashes on Monday between the only two former Australian Open champions in the WTA draw. Former world number one Victoria Azarenka claimed back-to-back Grand Slam titles here in 2012 and 2013, making the quarter-finals on a total of five occasions, with a run to the round of 16 last season suggesting she is not yet ready to give up chasing a third major trophy. 2020’s champion Sofia Kenin is a fascinating story at 24 years old. The American reached the semi-final of the Hobart International this week in her first three-match winning run since Roland-Garros in 2021, where she finished runner-up to Iga Swiatek the previous season, as she continues to make a steady trail back to the top of the game. Kenin’s years in the wilderness were hard to bear but she should be the stronger for it if she can ever rediscover her best, lights-out level.
THE PREDICTION
Former world number four Kenin, currently ranked just outside the top 200 in the live WTA rankings, beat Azarenka in three sets in their first encounter at the 2019 Acapulco Open but Azarenka handed her a double bagel in Rome on clay a year later. Both players are not at their best for this third encounter and, in their own ways, both are navigating strange patches of form and confidence issues. That should make for a match full of twists and turns but, crucially, both will work the crowd to create a great atmosphere. Azarenka has won at least a set in each of their first two matches and she can be backed to earn at least a set here for a cautious addition to an accumulator. Reasonably, though, the Belarussian should be coming through the outright winner.
