US Open 2022: Aryna Sabalenka vs Kaia Kanepi preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds, and pick
Match Details
Fixture: (6) Aryna Sabalenka vs Kaia Kanepi.
Date: September 1, 2022.
Tournament: US Open 2022.
Round: First round (Round of 128).
Venue: New York, United States.
Category: Grand Slam.
Surface: Hard.
Prize money: $60,102,000.
Match timing: 11 am local time, 3 pm GMT and 8:30 pm IST.
Live telecast: USA - ESPN & ESPN2 | Canada - TSN | UK - Amazon Prime Video | India - Sony Liv, Sony Ten & Sony Six.
Aryna Sabalenka vs Kaia Kanepi preview
Sixth seed Aryna Sabalenka will face Kaia Kanepi in the second round of the US Open 2022 in New York on Friday.
Sabalenka entered New York on the back of a strong run at the recently concluded Cincinnati Masters, where she reached the semifinals before losing to eventual champion Caroline Garcia.
The 24-year-old built on her newly-found confidence to beat qualifier Catherine Harrison in straight sets 6-1, 6-3 in the opening round at Flushing Meadows. She was dominant throughout the match and outclassed her young opponent with her powerful serve and groundstrokes to move into the second round.
Solid first match from Aryna Sabalenka.
6-1, 6-3 on Harrison to reach the 2nd round.
Joins Pegula and Swiatek as the top 10 that won the 11am matches.
Kanepi has a reputation as a 'giant-killer' on the WTA tour. She has defeated the likes of Angelique Kerber (Australian Open) and Garbine Muguruza (French Open) this season, adding weight to her nickname.
In New York, she was clinical in her first-round match against Tereza Martincova, winning in straight sets 7-6(4), 6-3.
Rumor has it, Kaia Kanepi was made in a lab by mad scientists, built specifically to take out seeds at grand slams.
And now... she'll get a chance to fulfill her prime directive.
The Estonian defeats Tereza Martincova, 7-6 (4), 6-3 to set up a showdown versus #6 Aryna Sabalenka https://t.co/fcu8k34KtW
Aryna Sabalenka vs Kaia Kanepi head-to-head
Sabalenka and Kanepi have faced off twice before on the WTA tour, with the former winning both to lead 2-0 in the head-to-head.
The Estonian has both their clashes in three sets. They last played in the Round of 16 at the Australian Open, where she emerged victorious 5-7, 6-2, 7-6(7).
Aryna Sabalenka vs Kaia Kanepi odds
(Odds will be updated soon)
Aryna Sabalenka vs Kaia Kanepi prediction
While Kanepi has not had a great season in terms of results, she often springs a surprise on the biggest stages. She has the firepower to compete with Sabalenka and even out-muscule her, as their head-to-head reflects.
Sabalenka, the sixth seed, looked imperious in her first-round match as she broke Harrison's serve six times during the contest. She possesses one of the most powerful games on the women's tour and has been a consistent presence in the top-10 of the WTA rankings.
However, Kanepi's more controlled aggression might see her past the Belarussian and into the third round.
Pick: Kanepi to win in three sets.