TennisSection previews the 2021 US Open as Victoria Azarenka (18) meets Jasmine Paolini in the Second Round on Wednesday September 1st, 2021.
Last year’s Finalist Victoria Azarenka will have her eyes firmly set on going one better and winning the title here at the 2021 US Open. The veteran has started strongly here in New York but has a difficult path ahead if she is to go all the way. Next up in her path is the unseeded Italian Jasmine Paolini who also seems to be in good form. Can she cause the huge upset? Or will Azarenka advance to the Third Round as expected?
Victoria Azarenka is the eighteenth seed here at the 2021 US Open and is currently ranked #19 in the WTA world rankings. The experienced Belarusian has had a relatively poor season so far but will know the importance of doing well here, as she will suffer a massive drop rankings if she does not replicate last year’s run to the Final. She defeated Tereza Martincova in the First Round 6-4. 6-0 after being down 4-2 in the first set. While she will be happy with that result she knows that she will have to be much better if she is to extend her stay deep into the second week, and cannot be as wasteful as she was early on. She is the big favorite here against Jasmine Paolini who is a talented player but lacks the experience at this level.
Jasmine Paolini is ranked #99 on the WTA Tour and is unseeded here at the 2021 US Open. The Italian has been having a very inconsistent season in 2021, winning her first WTA title in Bol earlier in the year but otherwise struggling for the most part. She was convincing in her opening round win over Yara Shvedova, breaking seemingly at will and controlling the match with some solid basline tennis. She is the big underdog here against her experienced opponent Victoria Azarenka as she lacks the firepower needed to truly test the top players. If she plays well she is certainly in with a chance but she is in for a tough time here in the Second Round.
This will be the first meeting between the two players on the WTA Tour, and I think that the only likely outcome is a straight-sets win for Victoria Azarenka. Jasmine Paolini is a solid player but is much better suited for and comfortable on clay, and expecting her to challenge the former world number one is a big ask. Victoria Azarenka is one of the most experienced players in the world and while she hasn’t been at her best she will likely rise to the occasion here. The Belarusian has an outside shot at winning the title and I am expecting her to dominate this match with her penetrating groundstrokes, advancing to the Third Round here at the 2021 US Open with relative ease.
Free Tennis Pick and Prediction: Victoria Azarenka to win in straight sets
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