2021 Madrid Open Final – Ashleigh Barty vs Aryna Sabalenka Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
Where is Ashleigh Barty vs Aryna Sabalenka taking place? Park Manzanares, Madrid, Spain
When is Ashleigh Barty vs Aryna Sabalenka on and what time does it start? Saturday 8th May April, 2021 – Not before 17:00 (UK)
What surface is Ashleigh Barty vs Aryna Sabalenka being played on? Clay (outdoor)
Where can I get tickets for Ashleigh Barty vs Aryna Sabalenka? Click here for the latest ticket information
What channel is Ashleigh Barty vs Aryna Sabalenka on? This match will not be televised live in the UK
Where can I stream Ashleigh Barty vs Aryna Sabalenka in the UK? Amazon Prime subscribers can stream the match live on Prime Video. Tennis TV subscribers can also stream the match live
THE LOWDOWN
ASHLEIGH BARTY
- 25-year-old Ashleigh Barty was her usual controlled, calm self in beating home favourite Paula Badosa in straight sets on Thursday to reach her fourth WTA final of the year.
- World number one Barty has won all three finals she has reached so far this season in title-winning campaigns at the Yarra Valley Classic, Miami Open and last week’s Stuttgart Open where she beat her next opponent Aryna Sabalenka.
ARYNA SABALENKA
- World number seven Aryna Sabalenka will face Ash Barty in a second successive WTA final after beating Anastasia Pavyluchenkova in the semi-finals via straight sets on Thursday.
- 23-year-old Sabalenka has yet to drop a set this week in Madrid and has lost just six times all season, with five of those coming against top 10 players Serena Williams, Garbine Muguruza (twice) and her next opponent Ashleigh Barty (twice).
THE PREDICTION
Many saw this second-successive Women’s final between Ash Barty and Aryna Sabalenka coming from a mile off after their incredible form both this season and on this surface in recent weeks. The world number one leads their head-to-head record 4-3 and has their only clay-court meeting in her win count from last week’s Stuttgart Open but that was a tough match in which Sabalenka claimed the first set 6-0 before falling away. 23-year-old Sabalenka looks set to shoot up the WTA rankings on this clay swing no matter the result here and it is not too much conjecture to suggest this pairing looks like the likely Roland-Garros final this time next month, such is their combined dominance. Barty is the toughest competitor on tour, though, and has not lost a final since Naomi Osaka got the better of her at the China Open last October, with six-straight title wins since then once reaching this stage. Sabalenka has it all to do but Barty conceded a set to the Belarusian last week in Stuttgart so a 2-1 victory for the Aussie looks the likeliest outcome here.
