Charleston Open 2023: Victoria Azarenka vs Sloane Stephens preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick
Match details
Fixture: (6) Victoria Azarenka vs Sloane Stephens
Date: April 4, 2023
Tournament: Charleston Open 2023
Round: Second round (Round of 32)
Venue: Charleston, USA
Category: WTA 500
Surface: Outdoor clay (green)
Prize money: $780,637
Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Amazon Prime Video
Victoria Azarenka vs Sloane Stephens preview
Two-time Major champion Victoria Azarenka will take on 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens in the second round of the 2023 Charleston Open on Tuesday.
Azarenka made it to the quarterfinals of her first tournament of the season, the Adelaide International 1. She lost to Linda Noskova despite holding a match point. The former World No. 1 then lost to Veronika Kudermetova in the first round of the Adelaide International 2.
Azarenka, a two-time champion at the Australian Open, made it to the semifinals at Melbourne Park a decade later. The Belarusian was sent packing by Elena Rybakina in straight sets.
The Middle East swing was rather average for the former World No. 1.
Karolina Muchova then knocked out Azarenka in the second round of the BNP Paribas Open. She made it a round further at the Miami Open, but was defeated by Magda Linette in three sets.
As the sixth seed at the Charleston Open, she received a first-round bye.
Stephens, meanwhile, faced qualifier Louisa Chirico in the first round of this WTA 500 tournament. The 30-year-old trailed 4-1 in the opening set, but showed signs of a fightback by claiming the next couple of games to make it 4-3. However, she lost the next two games to surrender the set.
Stephens raced to a 5-0 lead in the second set and soon clinched the set to level the proceedings. An early break of serve put the former US Open champion 3-1 up in the third set. She broke Chirico's serve once again towards the end and then served out the match to win 3-6, 6-1, 6-2.
Victoria Azarenka vs Sloane Stephens head-to-head
Stephens leads Azarenka 4-3 in the head-to-head. She won their previous encounter at the 2019 Madrid Open in three sets.
Victoria Azarenka vs Sloane Stephens odds
Odds are sourced from BetMGM.
Victoria Azarenka vs Sloane Stephens prediction
Since her Australian Open run, Azarenka has been rather inconsistent. Stephens, on the other hand, has struggled since the start of the year. Her first-round win over Chirico in Charleston was just her fifth victory of the season.
Azarenka was dominant in the initial stages of their rivalry, winning their first three meetings in straight sets, all at the Australian Open. Stephens has since turned the tables on her, winning their next four matches. This will be their first contest in almost four years.
Azarenka is the slightly more aggressive player in this match-up. Stephens is able to handle the barrage of the Belarusian's powerful groundstrokes quite well and her superior defensive skills further give her an edge.
Both players have struggled recently. However, given Stephens' record against Azarenka, coupled with the American's better results on clay, make her the favorite to come out on top in this duel.
Pick: Sloane Stephens to win in three sets.