'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wCEAAMDAwMDAwQEBAQFBQUFBQcHBgYHBwsICQgJCAsRCwwLCwwLEQ8SDw4PEg8bFRMTFRsfGhkaHyYiIiYwLTA+PlQBAwMDAwMDBAQEBAUFBQUFBwcGBgcHCwgJCAkICxELDAsLDAsRDxIPDg8SDxsVExMVGx8aGRofJiIiJjAtMD4+VP/AABEIAAUACgMBIgACEQEDEQH/xABgAAEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABhAAAgEEAwEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAQMCAAQREgUGIQdBAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADBBEAAgICAwEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIDEQAhBBJBMv/aAAwDAQACEQMRAD8AkfoPZ7jrPQZv45MIsdxe62tw1qZ3BPsJzBOBrnB/fakbP7Ryws7cNtZtYFQ3YbkjeWPTgRpSpOTEj0WBJ1uz6LxpeVPEq9GA2w+R4aGf/9k='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Match Details
Fixture: (15) Victoria Azarenka vs Madison Keys
Date: February 22, 2023
Tournament: Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships 2023
Round: Third round (Round of 16)
Venue: Aviation Club Tennis Center, Dubai, UAE
Category: WTA 1000
Surface: Outdoor Hardcourt
Match timing: Approx 1.30 pm local time, 9.30 am GMT, 4.30 am EST, 3 pm IST
Prize money: $2,788,468
Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Amazon Prime Video
Victoria Azarenka vs Madison Keys preview
Two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka faces former US Open runner-up Madison Keys in the Round of 16 in Dubai on Wednesday.
Azarenka has made a commendable start to the 2023 season. She reached the quarterfinals in her first tournament of the year — the Adelaide International 1. Although the former World No. 1 suffered a first-round exit the very next week at the Adelaide International 2, she rebounded in spectacular fashion with a brilliant run to the semifinals of the Australian Open.
Azarenka then fell in a tight three-setter to Abu Dhabi champion Belinda Bencic in the pre-quarterfinals in Doha last week.
Back in Dubai, a tournament where she reached the final in 2010, the World No. 14 has now won two matches in a row to make the last 16. Azarenka's latest victory wasn't easy. Trailing Amanda Anisimova 3-5 in the decider, the 15th seed came storming back to win 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(5).
Madison Keys, meanwhile, went on a five-match unbeaten run to guide Team USA to the United Cup title at the start of the year. At the Australian Open thereafter, she was stopped by none other than Victoria Azarenka in three sets in the third round.
Keys then succumbed to a first-round defeat at the hands of former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko at the Qatar Open last week.
The World No. 23 has now registered a couple of straight-sets wins to reach the pre-quarterfinals in Dubai, with her most recent victory being an upset of fourth seed Caroline Garcia.
Victoria Azarenka vs Madison Keys head-to-head
Azarenka has a flawless 4-0 record against Keys in their head-to-head. The Belarusian came through 1-6, 6-2, 6-1 in their most recent encounter in the third round of the 2023 Australian Open.
Victoria Azarenka vs Madison Keys odds
(Odds sourced from oddschecker.com)
Victoria Azarenka vs Madison Keys prediction
The Belarusian's solid backhand returns are highly effective in breaking down Keys' aggressive game. However, the former World No. 1 does struggle to maintain the depth on her strokes these days. Should that happen again, the big-hitting Keys won't hesitate to blast it away for a winner.
Azarenka also has to take care of her serve to make a strong start against Keys. She coughed up seven double faults and dropped her serve seven times against Anisimova in the previous round. A repeat of that will automatically hand over the advantage to the World No. 23.
That said, Azarenka has been consistent so far this year. Given her recent form and her record over Keys, she should be able to come through this contest.
Pick: Victoria Azarenka to win in three sets.
