Victoria Azarenka and Madison Keys meet in the third round of the 2023 tennis Italian Open. Let’s preview this game and give out a pick and prediction.
Victoria Azarenka is coming off a straight set win over Sloane Stephens that took 19 games to decide. In the victory, Azarenka won 55 percent of her first serve points and 54 percent of her second serve points. Azarenka won 55 percent of her total service points and converted on 6 of her 8 break points. Azarenka got 69 percent of her first serves in play and hit 4 aces. Azarenka looks to make the fourth round of a WTA 1000 for the first time this year. Azarenka looks to win back to back matches for the first time in Dubai back in February. Azarenka has split their last 8 matches on clay court.
Madison Keys is coming off a straight set win over Magdalena Frech that took 17 games to decide. In the victory, Keys won 72 percent of her first serve points and 48 percent of her second serve points. Keys won 61 percent of her total service points and converted on 5 of her 8 break points. Keys got 52 percent of her first serves in play and hit 3 aces. Keys looks to win at least 2 matches for the fourth time in her last 7 tournaments. Keys looks to make the fourth round of the Italian Open for the second time in her career. Keys has won 7 of her last 10 matches on clay court.
Azarenka has won 4 of the 5 meetings against Keys, but that lone loss was in the last meeting this year in Dubai. Azarenka won the only match on clay, which was in the 2021 French Open. Only 2 of the 5 matches went the distance.
Azarenka has the mental edge, knowing she’s owned Keys over the years, but I do believe Keys is the better player at this stage. Keys also beat Azarenka rather easily back in February. Azarenka can be hit or miss with her serve, and a powerful returner like Keys could give her issues.
Give me Keys to advance.
