Katerina Siniakova vs Victoria Azarenka Tennis Prediction
Victoria Azarenka had disappointing results in the run-up to the French Open, a second-round exit at Madrid to Karolina Pliskova (two hours and six minutes) and a first-round loss at Rome to Indian Wells champion Naomi Osaka (6-0 6-3 in an hour and 16 minutes).
The two-time Australian Open champion has reached the semifinal stage of the French Open once (2013, l. Sharapova), along with other quarterfinal finishes (2009 and 2011). The Belarusian’s last stay at Paris ended with a first-round retirement to Knapp in 2016, citing a knee injury.
Katerina Siniakova has posted a couple of decent results on the clay-courts of Europe this season. She defeated former #9 Petkovic to reach Prague quarterfinal, while at Nuremberg last week, she knocked out Cepede Royg and Fanny Stollar to advance into the semifinals (l. Riske from a set up).
The Czech has been appearing in the French Open main draws for the last three years, but failing to get through to the second round. Last year, she played as world #38 (the highest rank with which she ever entered a slam) and was handed a three-set defeat by #86 Alexandrova.
Siniakova will provide enough resistance to bother the former semifinalist as the pair meets for the first time. But the Czech is susceptible to buckle under pressure, and the former world #1 is expected to prevail over the 22-year-old.
Tennis Prediction: Victoria Azarenka
Odds: 1.50
