Madrid Open 2024: Aryna Sabalenka vs Robin Montgomery preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick
Match Details
Fixture: (2) Aryna Sabalenka vs (WC) Robin Montgomery
Date: April 28, 2024
Tournament: Mutua Madrid Open
Round: Third Round (Round of 32)
Venue: La Caja Magica, Madrid, Spain
Category: WTA 1000
Surface: Clay
Prize Money: €7,877,020
Live Telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Sky Sports | Canada - TSN+/TSN3
Aryna Sabalenka vs Robin Montgomery preview
Aryna Sabalenka's title defense continues against Robin Montgomery in the third round of the 2024 Madrid Open on Sunday.
After a first-round bye, Sabalenka was up against Magda Linette in the second round. The Belarusian snagged an early break and held on to the lead to clinch the first set.
Sabalenka's level dipped in the second set and Linette was more than happy to capitalize on it. The latter broke her opponent's serve just once but it proved to be enough for her to take the set.
The two were on even footing until 3-3 in the decider. Sabalenka made one final push as she went on a three-game run to wrap up a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 victory.
Montgomery scored a comfortable 6-2, 6-2 win over Elina Avanesyan to reach the second round, where she took on 26th seed Katie Boulter. The American teenager got outplayed in the first set as she managed to snag just one game in it for herself.
Boulter dealt the first blow in the second set to go 3-2 up. Montgomery turned up the intensity after that as she reeled off four straight games to snatch the set. She carried the momentum into the decider as she raced to a 5-2 lead.
Montgomery then got broken as she tried to close out the match. However, the American successfully served out the match on her second attempt for a 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 comeback win.
Aryna Sabalenka vs Robin Montgomery head-to-head
This will be the first career meeting between them, so the head-to-head stands at 0-0 for now.
Aryna Sabalenka vs Robin Montgomery odds
(Odds are sourced from BetMGM)
Aryna Sabalenka vs Robin Montgomery prediction
Sabalenka once again found herself embroiled in a three-set tussle but managed to emerge victorious against Linette to begin her title defense with a win. Her form has taken a turn for the worse since her win at the Australian Open.
Sabalenka has played nine matches since her triumph in Melbourne and seven of them have gone to a deciding set, of which she has won three. Montgomery notched up the best result of her career with a third-round showing here.
She staged a memorable comeback to oust Boulter and held her nerve when she failed to close out the match on her first try. Sabalenka's record in Madrid is quite peculiar. She has either won the title or left the tournament without a win.
Now that the Belarusian has a win under her belt here, it remains to be seen if the pattern continues with yet another triumph for her. Montgomery has done well to reach this stage but getting the better of Sabalenka could prove to be an uphill task for her.
Pick: Aryna Sabalenka to win in straight sets.