Stuttgart Open: Sabalenka vs Badosa Tennis Prediction & Pick

TennisSection previews the 2023 Stuttgart Open quarterfinal match featuring Aryna Sabalenka vs Paula Badosa on Friday, April 21, 2023.

Sabalenka vs Badosa Match Preview and Prediction

Aryna Sabalenka will play her good friend Paula Badosa for a spot in the Stuttgart Open semifinal. Who will prevail?

Aryna Sabalenka was first to punch her ticket to the 2023 Stuttgart Open quarterfinal with a straight sets dismissal of World No. 12 Barbora Krejcikova. Playing each other for the fourth time this season, Sabalenka served immaculately against the wily Czech, hammering 11 aces to just two double faults and winning 82% first serve points. She’ll need to serve lights out to be able to cruise past Paula Badosa who is playing very well this week.

Paula Badosa needed two wins to reach the quarterfinal. First, she faced the seventh seed Daria Kasatkina in one of the marquee first-round matches. But she put the Russian to the sword with a clinical display of power tennis, dropping just two games. Then she proceeded to eliminate countrywoman Cristina Bucsa with another scintillating performance, winning 6-1, 6-3. Badosa is in better shape to tackle her good friend Aryna Sabalenka in what is a rematch from last year’s Stuttgart Open semifinals.

Sabalenka vs Badosa Prediction and Pick

Paula Badosa leads Aryna Sabalenka 2-1 in their head-to-head. Sabalenka had a treacherous draw at the Stuttgart Open last year, needing to beat a trio of established stars including Badosa en route to the final where she lost to Iga Swiatek. This year, she will likely have to contend with the same if she intends to make another final. Her first match here against Krejcikova had Sabalenka in full flight. It is hard to stop her when her serve is firing on all cylinders, as that confidence quickly transforms into other parts of her game including her hyper-aggressive return. But Badosa has played well this week, and in the lead-up to this tournament. The injury torment seems to be behind her. Sabalenka is rightly the favorite, but expect the Spaniard to cover the sets spread.