Preview
Swiatek has remained unbeaten since her second-round exit in Dubai in February. The unstoppable Pole has now won 24 consecutive matches, including titles in Doha, Indian Wells, Miami, and Stuttgart. The 20-year-old withdrew from last week’s Madrid Open to rest and recover for the remainder of the clay season. She showed little rust in her second-round match against Elena-Gabriela Ruse in Rome on Wednesday, her first match in two and a half weeks. Swiatek dropped her serve a few times in the first set before cruising to a 6-3, 6-0 victory.
With the win, the defending champion extends her winning streak in Rome to seven matches, which she hopes to extend when she meets Azarenka.
Meanwhile, Azarenka had a strong start to the season, reaching the quarterfinals in Adelaide and the round of 16 at the Australian Open. She has struggled since then due to persistent injuries and a lack of consistency. The two-time Major winner is looking to regain her confidence at a tournament where she has previously finished second. She arrived in Rome with a 10-6 win-loss record for the season.
After a commanding victory over Camila Osorio on Wednesday, world number 16 Victoria Azarenka has yet to drop a set at the Italian Open. The former world number one is a two-time Grand Slam champion, having won the Australian Open back-to-back in 2011 and 2012, as well as reaching the final a year later. Azarenka’s most recent title came in 2020 at the Western & Southern Open, her seventh Masters’ title.
When is Swiatek vs Azarenka?
- Date: Thursday, May 12, 2022
- Time: 7:00 am ET
Location:
- Venue: Grand Stand Arena, Italy, Rome
- Capacity: 8000
The Swiatek vs Azarenka match will occur at the Grand Stand Arena. The venue can host up to 8000 people.
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Match Details
- Match: (1) Iga Swiatek vs (16) Victoria Azarenka
- Round: Round of 16
- Venue: Grand Stand Arena, Rome, Italy
- Surface: Clay
- Prize Money:€2,527,250
- Live telecast: USA – Tennis Channel | UK – Amazon Prime Video.
Swiatek vs Azarenka head-to-head
Swiatek 1: 1 Azarenka
How to watch Swiatek vs Azarenka?
- USA: For USA residents, Tennis Channel will broadcast live the Swiatek vs Azarenka match. You can watch the game live on their official website.
- UK: UK viewers can watch the action unfold live on Amazon Prime Video.
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Canada: Canadians can watch Swiatek vs Azarenka action live on DAZN, TSN, and Rogers Sportsnet.
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Australia: Fans from Australia can watch the live broadcast on beIN Sports.
Odds:
Moneyline:
- Iga Swiatek: -800
- Victoria Azarenka: +500
Handicap Bets:
- Iga Swiatek: -5.5 (-155)
- Victoria Azarenka: +5.5 (+110)
Total Games:
- Iga Swiatek: Over 18.5 (-110)
- Victoria Azarenka: Under 18.5 (-125)
*All odds sourced from BetMGM
Swiatek vs Azarenka Prediction:
Swiatek’s recent pugnacious form makes it difficult to bet against her. At the moment, the Pole is doing almost nothing wrong. The surface gives the former French Open champion an advantage, allowing her to better time the ball. Her brilliant movement and ability to mix things up with drop shots and lobs should give her an advantage over Azarenka, who isn’t used to playing on clay.
Iga Swiatek is the overwhelming favorite to defend her Italian Open title this weekend, but she will have to overcome a former finalist in Victoria Azarenka in order to reach the last eight. The world number one defeated Azarenka in three sets in January at Adelaide 1, with Azarenka winning their first meeting at the US Open in 2020. A first meeting on clay favors the Pole, and despite Azarenka’s strong showing in Rome thus far, Swiatek can be backed to win in two sets.
Swiatek, on the other hand, must be careful not to give the Belarusian an early break of serve. She did drop her serve twice against Ruse, but it had no effect on the rest of the match.
Prediction: Iga Swiatek will win in clear sets.
