2021 WTA Finals Group Stage – Aryna Sabalenka vs Paula Badosa Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is Aryna Sabalenka vs Paula Badosa on and what time does it start? Aryna Sabalenka vs Paula Badosa will take place on Friday 12th November, 2021 – not before 01:30 (UK)
Where is Aryna Sabalenka vs Paula Badosa taking place? Aryna Sabalenka vs Paula Badosa will take place at the Panamerican Tennis Center in Guadalajara, Mexico
What surface is Aryna Sabalenka vs Paula Badosa being played on? Aryna Sabalenka vs Paula Badosa will take place on an outdoor hard court
Where can I get tickets for Aryna Sabalenka vs Paula Badosa? Visit this link for the latest ticket information for Aryna Sabalenka vs Paula Badosa
What channel is Aryna Sabalenka vs Paula Badosa on? Aryna Sabalenka vs Paula Badosa will be televised on the Amazon Prime Video app on smart TVs
Where can I stream Aryna Sabalenka vs Paula Badosa? Amazon Prime subscribers can stream Aryna Sabalenka vs Paula Badosa live via their platform
THE LOWDOWN
World number two Aryna Sabalenka is the top seed at her Women’s Singles debut at the WTA Finals after Ash Barty closed shop on her 2021 season. 23-year-old Sabalenka played the 2019 WTA Finals as the top seed in the doubles alongside Elise Mertens after the pair won Indian Wells, the Miami Masters and the US Open that season. Sabalenka also won the Australian Open alongside Mertens this season but she also found great success in the singles with a fourth career Masters title won at the Madrid Open and back-to-back Grand Slam semi-final exits at Wimbledon and the US Open. World number 10 Paula Badosa is probably the WTA’s most-improved player in terms of genuine week-on-week conditioning, outside of the miracle surge of US Open champion Emma Raducanu. The 23-year-old won her first WTA title at the Serbia Open on clay but a first Masters title at Indian Wells this time last month was an astounding achievement alongside a first Grand Slam quarter-final reached at Roland-Garros.
THE PREDICTION
There are several reasons as to why Paula Badosa looks the likely winner against top seed Aryna Sabalenka here. Firstly, Sabalenka has played just two matches since contracting covid-19 just before Indian Wells, losing in straight-sets to Ekaterina Alexandrova most recently at the Kremlin Cup after a tight win over Ajla Tomljanovic. Secondly, Badosa has proven herself wildly capable in conditions like these as the recent champion of Indian Wells and the Spaniard brings that six-match winning streak from the California desert through to Guadalajara. What is more, Badosa was the winner of their only previous meeting back at the Cincinnati Masters in a tight three-set second round match – also on a hard court. Take the ever-improving Spaniard to win outright in what could be a fairly rusty first test for both.
