Miami Open 2023: Victoria Azarenka vs Camila Giorgi preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick

Match details

Fixture: Victoria Azarenka vs Camila Giorgi

Tournament: Miami Open 2023

Round: Second round (Round of 64)

Venue: Miami Gardens, Florida, United States

Category: WTA 1000

Surface: Outdoor hardcourt

Prize money: $8,800,000

Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel/TC Plus | UK - Amazon Prime Video

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Victoria Azarenka vs Camila Giorgi preview

Two-time former winner Victoria Azarenka will open her 2023 Miami Open campaign with a second-round encounter against the big-hitting Camila Giorgi on Thursday (March 23).

Azarenka, the 14th seed at this year's tournament, comes into the tournament fresh off a spate of early exits. She lost to Karolina Muchova in her Indian Wells, having also been ousted early in both her appearances in the Middle East — Dubai and Doha.

The Belarusian had made a strong start to the new season, making it to the semi-finals of the Australian Open. She will be keen to rediscover the form in Miami.

Giorgi, meanwhile, has had an up-and-down season in 2023. While she lifted a fourth career title at the Merida Open earlier in February, she has also suffered early exits at big events — including her last two events in Monterrey and Indian Wells.

Her marathon 7-6 (4), 6-7 (4), 7-6 (4) win over Kaia Kanepi, which tied for the longest match of the year, would have given her some much-needed confidence heading into the big match against Azarenka.

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Victoria Azarenka vs Camila Giorgi head-to-head

Azarenka leads Giorgi in their current head-to-head by a slender 2-1 margin. The two last faced each other at the 2019 Canadian Open, with the Belarusian winning in straight sets.

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Victoria Azarenka vs Camila Giorgi odds

(Odds sourced from BetMGM)

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Victoria Azarenka vs Camila Giorgi prediction

The match will have Victoria Azarenka's steady baseline hitting square-off against Camila Giorgi's gung-ho brand of tennis.

While the Belarusian has lost some of the sting on her groundstrokes, she can go toe-to-toe against most opponents from the back of the court. She rarely cedes an inch to her opponents, frustrating them into overpressing.

Giorgi, for her part, can start hitting the ball at a level when she's practically unplayable. But she also often goes through patches where she begins to spray groundstrokes all over the place, making things too easy for her opponents.

Pitted against a steady opponent, the same weakness can come back to haunt the Italian.

Prediction: Azarenka to win in three sets