TennisSection previews the 2022 Australian Open as Elina Svitolina takes on Victoria Azarenka in the third round on Friday, January 21st, 2022.
Will Elina Svitolina reach the second week of the Australian Open for the fourth time in five seasons? Or will two-time champion Victoria Azarenka halt that run? If recent history between the pair is anything to go by, Azarenka could be the one smiling at the end of Friday’s meeting.
Elina Svitolina eased her way into the third round of the Australian Open following Harmony Tan’s retirement when the result of the match was a foregone conclusion. Svitolina appeared set to polish up victory in straight sets, but she was broken while serving for the match at 5-4 in the second set. Tan would escape the Ukrainian’s shackles just momentarily after stealing the second set, but was physically hampered in the decider as she retired while trailing 6-3 5-7 5-1. With the win, Svitolina now stands within one match from reaching the second week of the Australian Open for the fourth time in five seasons. But she will need to do something she had never done before, and that is to beat Victoria Azarenka.
Victoria Azarenka, meanwhile, made light work of Jil Teichmann to reach the third round of the Australian Open. Azarenka, a two-time champion in these parts, dropped a measly three games to record another emphatic victory. The Belarusian 24th seed had lost in the first round in each of her last two visits to Melbourne Park, but she has been rejuvenated player in the past year and looks like a potential contender this fortnight. But her title credentials will face a tough test when she takes on Elina Svitolina.
Victoria Azarenka is a jaw dropping 4-0 in the head-to-head against Elina Svitolina. Their last meeting came in Doha less than a year ago where Azarenka won 6-2 6-4. I expect Friday to be a lot closer. But this looks like a really awful matchup for Svitolina considering that some of those defeats have come during her peak years on the WTA tour. Azarenka is primed to keep that unbeaten record intact.
Free Tennis Pick and Prediction: Victoria Azarenka in 3 sets
Want more Free Tennis Picks from our Experts? Check out our latest Tennis Predictions now!
Join TopCourt now to learn from some of the best tennis players in the world! Find our exclusive 14-day FREE-trial here!
All betting odds/banners presented on the site are advertisements. Opinions of our experts are solely opinions. Please gamble responsibly and BeGambleAware.org.
