Australian Open 2024: Victoria Azarenka vs Camila Giorgi preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick
Match Details
Fixture: (18) Victoria Azarenka vs Camila Giorgi
Tournament: Australian Open 2024
Round: First round (Round of 128)
Venue: Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia
Category: Grand Slam
Surface: Hard (Outdoor)
Prize Money: A$86,500,000
Live telecast: USA - ESPN & Tennis Channel | UK - Eurosport | India - Sony Sports & Sony Liv | Canada - TSN & RDS
Victoria Azarenka vs Camila Giorgi preview
Two-time Major champion Victoria Azarenka will begin her 2024 Australian Open campaign against Camila Giorgi.
Azarenka made a strong start to her season in Brisbane. After a first-round bye, she got the better of Anna Kalinskaya 6-1, 7-6 (8). She handed Clara Burel a 7-5, 6-2 defeat in the next round to progress further.
Azarenka then survived a three-set tussle against fellow Grand Slam champion Jelena Ostapenko in the quarterfinals. She next took on World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals but lost 6-2, 6-4.
Giorgi staged a comeback against Peyton Stearns to defeat her opponent in three sets in their Brisbane Open. She couldn't challenge Ostapenko in any manner whatsoever in the second round and suffered a 6-1, 6-4 loss.
Giorgi then participated in the Adelaide International, where she had to compete in the qualifying rounds first. Up against Claire Liu, the Italian succumbed to another straight sets loss.
Victoria Azarenka vs Camila Giorgi head-to-head
The two have split their prior four encounters evenly between them, so the head-to-head is currently deadlocked at 2-2. Azarenka won their most recent meeting at the 2023 Miami Open in straight sets.
Victoria Azarenka vs Camila Giorgi odds
(Odds are sourced from BetMGM)
Victoria Azarenka vs Camila Giorgi prediction
With polar opposites start to the season, Azarenka will be the overwhelming favorite to win this clash. A two-time Australian Open champion, she reached the semifinals here last year.
Having lost to an opponent ranked outside the top 100 in her most recent match, Giorgi's form doesn't inspire too much confidence in her. She's one of the most powerful ball-strikers on the tour, but rarely switches tactics or slows down the tempo if she's making too many errors.
Azarenka is a fine shotmaker too, but is more adept than Giorgi when it comes to mixing things up. She's a great returner too, and is likely to put the Italian under pressure during her service games.
Giorgi and Azarenka's rivalry dates back to a few years. The former won their first couple of matches, but Azarenka claimed the next two quite comfortably. Given their recent form, it wouldn't be too surprising to see the Belarusian notching up another win over Giorgi.
Pick: Victoria Azarenka to win in straight sets.