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Match Details
Fixture: (10) Victoria Azarenka vs Robin Montgomery
Tournament: Guadalajara Open 2023
Round: First round (Round of 56)
Venue: Panamerican Tennis Center, Guadalajara, Mexico
Category: WTA 1000
Surface: Hardcourt
Prize money: $2,788,468
Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK – Amazon Prime Video
Victoria Azarenka vs Robin Montgomery preview
Two-time Major champion Victoria Azarenka will take on Robin Montgomery in the first round of the 2023 Guadalajara Open.
Azarenka started the year on a strong note as she reached the semifinals of the Australian Open. It was her first last-four appearance at the venue since winning the title back in 2013. She lost to Elena Rybakina in straight sets.
Azarenka couldn't sustain her form on a consistent basis for the rest of the season. Since her run Down Under, she has won consecutive matches on just two occasions. The Belarusian made it to the third round of the WTA 1000 in Dubai and the fourth round of Wimbledon.
Azarenka, however, has thrived in doubles this season. Her partnership with Beatriz Haddad Maia has proved to be a winning combo. The two claimed the title at the Madrid Open and also reached the quarterfinals of the US Open.
Montgomery achieved a career milestone this season as she bagged her maiden win at the WTA 1000 level at the Miami Open. She defeated Ana Bogdan in the first round but lost to Madison Keys after that.
Montgomery has otherwise mainly competed on the ITF circuit, where she won a title each in singles and doubles. She also reached a career-high ranking of No. 143 in July.
Victoria Azarenka vs Robin Montgomery head-to-head
This will be the first meeting between them, so the head-to-head stands at 0-0 for now.
Victoria Azarenka vs Robin Montgomery odds
(Odds are sourced from BetMGM)
Victoria Azarenka vs Robin Montgomery prediction
Azarenka reached the semifinals in Guadalajara last year, so she's defending quite a few points. She'll need to make a deep run here to keep her ranking steady after a string of underwhelming results over the last few weeks.
Luckily for Azarenka, the draw is quite wide open this time, and she couldn't have asked for a better opener either. Montgomery is quite talented, having won the US Open title in singles and doubles as a junior in 2021. However, she's extremely inexperienced against the heavy hitters of the WTA tour.
Since Montgomery largely competes on the ITF circuit, the caliber of opponents she faces is nowhere close to Azarenka's. While the former World No. 1 isn't in the best form at the moment, she should be able to move past the young American with ease.
Pick: Victoria Azarenka to win in straight sets.
