Sofia Kenin vs Aryna Sabalenka
May 11, 2023 9:00 am EDT
The Line: Aryna Sabalenka -796 / Sofia Kenin +500
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Sofia Kenin and Aryna Sabalenka meet in the second round of the 2023 tennis Italian Open. Let’s preview this game and give out a pick and prediction.
Sofia Kenin is coming off a 3 sets win over Cristina Bucsa that took 34 games to decide. In the victory, Kenin won 65 percent of her first serve points and 51 percent of her second serve points. Kenin won 61 percent of her total service points and converted on 7 of her 21 break points. Kenin got 68 percent of her first serves in play and hit 1 ace. Kenin looks to win back to back matches for the first time since Miami. Kenin has 8 career wins over top-10 players, but none of those wins have come since 2020. Kenin looks to make the third round of the Italian Open for the second time in her career. Kenin has won 5 of her last 8 matches on clay court.
Aryna Sabalenka is coming off winning Madrid, which is her third title this year and the 13th title of her career. Sabalenka beat Iga Swiatek in the final and is the hottest player on tour with wins in 18 of her last 22 matches. Sabalenka should like her chances to continue this success, considering she made the semifinals of the Italian Open last year. Sabalenka hasn’t lost her opening match of a tournament since Guadalajara back in October. Sabalenka has won 6 straight matches on clay court.
Sabalenka has won both meetings against Kenin. The matches were both in 2018, Wuhan and Tianjin. This will obviously be the first match on clay.
Kenin has had issues finding her footing this year, and clay isn’t her favorite surface. Sabalenka is easily the hottest player on tour, and there’s no stepping in front of her right now. This is some of the best and most consistent tennis Sabalenka has played in her life.
Give me Sabalenka in straight sets for max betting value.
