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Match details
Fixture: (14) Victoria Azarenka vs (20) Magda Linette
Tournament: Miami Open 2023
Date: March 25, 2023
Round: Third round (Round of 32)
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
Victoria Azarenka vs Magda Linette preview
Two-time former champion Victoria Azarenka will take on Magda Linette in an exciting third-round encounter at the 2023 Miami Open on Saturday.
Azarenka, the 14th seed, came into the tournament looking to rediscover her lost form. She lost to Karolina Muchova in her opening match at Indian Wells, having also suffered early exits in Dubai and Doha. She made a promising start to the year, however, by reaching the semifinals of the Australian Open.
Back on the Miami courts, she looked to be in complete control of her game — dropping only four games against the big-hitting Camila Giorgi in her opener.
Linette, meanwhile, was also a comfortable winner in the last round — where she got the better of Evgeniya Rodina 6-3, 6-4. The win was just her third since her breakthrough run to the last four in Melbourne back in January.
Sitting at a career-high ranking of No. 19 courtesy of the performance Down Under, Linette will feel good about her game despite some recent surprise losses. She could give the seasoned Azarenka a lot to think about.
Victoria Azarenka vs Magda Linette head-to-head
Azarenka leads Linette in their current head-to-head by a 2-0 margin. The duo's most recent meeting came at the 2021 BNP Paribas Open, with the Belarusian winning after her opponent was forced to retire mid-match.
Victoria Azarenka vs Magda Linette odds
(Odds sourced from BetMGM)
Victoria Azarenka vs Magda Linette prediction
Her recent run of form notwithstanding, Azarenka is a tricky customer for any opponent. The Belarusian still possesses the baseline game to wear down even the best.
That said, she will be up against an equally tenacious opponent in the form of Magda Linette. The Pole does not possess any apparent weapons, but her instinctive play, incredible footspeed and smart thinking set her apart from the rest of the field.
Featuring two gritty players looking to rediscover their form from a few months ago, this one could well go down to the wire. In such a situation, Azarenka's experience could make her the favorite.
Pick: Azarenka to win in three sets
