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Match Details
Fixture: (4) Elena Rybakina vs (27) Victoria Azarenka
Date: March 28, 2024
Tournament: Miami Open 2024
Round: Semifinal
Venue: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida, US
Category: WTA 1000
Surface: Outdoor hardcourt
Prize Money: $8,770,480
Live Telecast: USA - Tennis Channel/TC Plus | UK - Sky Sports | Canada - TSN/TVA
Elena Rybakina vs Victoria Azarenka preview
World No. 4 Elena Rybakina takes on two-time Major champion Victoria Azarenka in the semifinals of the 2024 Miami Open on Thursday.
After three-set tussles against Clara Tauson and Taylor Townsend, Rybakina reached the fourth round, where she registered her first straight-set victory of the week, over Madison Keys.
Rybakina faced her fellow top-10 cohort Maria Sakkari in the quarterfinals. The Kazakh led 4-2 in the first set, but her opponent broke back immediately. With Sakkari serving to force a tie-break at 6-5, Rybakina snagged a break to take the set.
The Greek led by a break twice in the second set but couldn't hold on to the advantage. She fended off a couple of match points at 5-4 before taking it in tiebreak.
Rybakina landed the first blow in the third set to go 4-3 up. Sakkari saved another couple of match points to make it 5-4, but the Kazakh closed out a 7-5, 6-7 (4), 6-4 win.
Azarenka, meanwhile, downed Peyton Stearns, Zheng Qinwen and Katie Boulter to set up a quarterfnial showdown against Yulia Putintseva. The former World No. 1 rallied from a break down twice in the first set and fought off three set points to capture the opener via a tie-break.
Putintseva stepped up her game, dishing out a breadstick to her opponent to clinch the second set. Azarenka responded by leading 5-1 lead before closing out a 7-6 (4), 1-6, 6-3 win.
Elena Rybakina vs Victoria Azarenka head-to-head
Rybakina leads Azarenka 3-0 in the head-to-head. She won their previous encounter at the 2024 Dubai Tennis Championships after the Belarusian's mid-match retirement.
Elena Rybakina vs Victoria Azarenka odds
(Odds are sourced from BetMGM)
Elena Rybakina vs Victoria Azarenka prediction
Both players were tested thoroughly in the quarterfinals. Azarenka blasted 47 winners against 44 unforced errors, while Rybakina struck 35 winners but had 52 unforced errors.
Azarenka lost her first couple of matches against Rybakina in straight sets. She appeared to be on the verge of a breakthrough in Dubai last month. The Belarusian claimed the first set but an injury forced to her retire.
Rybakina has the edge over Azarenka in serve and shotmaking, often overpowering her older opponent from the baseline. The Belarusian is the better mover and is more comfortable with switching tactics, while being a great returner too.
Azarenka, meanwhile, has played at a high level throughout the tournament and could put the Kazakh in a spot of bother. But Rybakina has been the tour's most consistent performer this year. Coupled with her record against the Belarusian, she's expected to reach another Miami final.
Pick: Elena Rybakina to win in three sets
