Introduction – Jessica Pegula vs Viktoria Azarenka Prediction 2023
On Tuesday, 24th, American Jessica Pegula will face Belarusian Viktoria Azarenka in the quarterfinals of the women’s draw of the Australian Open. The match will take place at the Rod Laver Arena, the main court at Melbourne Park, which is located in the city of Melbourne, Australia.
Pegula and Azarenka last faced each other in October 2022, in the semifinals of the WTA Guadalajara. In that match, also played on hard courts, Pegula came out victorious in straight sets. That was the only encounter between the two players in the last season.
Jessica Pegula
Jessica Pegula comes into this quarterfinal match with confidence, having not lost a set so far in this Australian Open. With the exits of Iga Swiatek and Ons Jabeur, she has become the main candidate for the tournament’s title. However, facing Viktoria Azarenka, the American will likely have the toughest challenge of her campaign.
In the round of 16, she did have a tough rival in Czech Barbora Krejcikova, but Pegula won with relative ease, 2-0. In the previous rounds, the American beat Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk, Belarusian Aliaksandra Sasnovich, and Romanian Jaqueline Cristian, all in straight sets.
Viktoria Azarenka
Seeking her third Australian Open title in her career, Viktoria Azarenka is trying to prove that she is back among the elite of the world circuit. To do so, she knows that she will have to beat a strong rival in these quarterfinals, the toughest match of her campaign. However, this doesn’t mean that the Belarusian hasn’t faced high-level opponents in the tournament.
The last two games, in particular, were quite challenging for the player. Both against Chinese Lin Zhu and against American Madison Keys, Azarenka had to play three sets to secure her advancement in the tournament. On the other hand, in the first two rounds, the Belarusian defeated Argentine Nadia Podoroska and American Sofia Kenin, both 2-0.
Jessica Pegula vs Viktoria Azarenka Prediction 2023
Jessica Pegula is not only the favorite to win this match but also the most likely to win the Australian Open, after the exits of the two top seeds in the tournament. However, the American will have to face a two-time champion of the tournament to reach the semifinals.
It’s worth remembering that Pegula has never reached the top four of a Grand Slam tournament. Therefore, the match may be a bit more tense than expected for her. This could make the handicap ‘Azarenka +3.5’ an interesting bet.
As there is also a considerable chance of a three-set match, another good opportunity for bettors may be in the ‘over 21.5 games’. In other words, we should expect an exciting and close match between the two players.
FAQ – Jessica Pegula vs Viktoria Azarenka Prediction 2023
The game will be played on January 24th, 2023.
Pegula and Azarenka last faced each other in October 2022, in the semifinals of the WTA Guadalajara. In that match, also played on hard courts, Pegula came out victorious in straight sets.
The match may be a bit more tense than expected for her. This could make the handicap ‘Azarenka +3.5’ an interesting bet. Another good opportunity for bettors may be in the ‘over 21.5 games’.
