Sofia Kenin vs Aryna Sabalenka Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA Rome

Prediction published on 11/05/2023, 05:45  by Devesh Jaganath | Modified on 11/05/2023 at 05:53 in Tennis Predictions

The second round of the WTA Rome Open will see Sofia Kenin take on Aryna Sabalenka on Thursday evening, and the winner of this matchup will face either Anhelina Klinina or Anna Blinkova in the round of 32. Following a series of injuries over the last year, Kenin continues to work her way back to her best but has found it tough. The American was ranked in the top five players in the world ahead of Wimbledon 2021, but following an extended absence, she fell below 200th and has had to work hard to bring that to 134th at present. Kenin was beaten in the second round at Charleston and in the first round in Madrid last month and currently holds a record of 10-10 for the year and 2-2 on the clay. Kenin played out an incredible three sets in the last round against Cristina Bucsa, which went down to the wire, but the American showed excellent resilience to win (6-3, 6-7, 7-5). Kenin has not beaten this opponent in two previous meetings and is likely to find it difficult in this one as well.

Meanwhile, the formidable Aryna Sabalenka will make her first appearance of the tournament in this one following a buy in the first round. The Belarusian will be brimming with confidence following her third major title success of the year last month in Madrid. Ranked 2nd in the world, Sabalenka has been formidable this year and boasts an incredible record of 29-4 overall and 9-1 on the clay. Her only loss on this surface came against world number one Iga Swiatek in the final in Stuttgart, though Sabalenka did get her revenge in the final in Madrid two weeks later. Of the four losses Sabalenka had this year, none of them were to players ranked outside the top 15 in the world. And, despite her previous two wins over this opponent being on the hard surface, Sabalenka will still be expecting the same outcome in this one.