Aryna Sabalenka vs Belinda Bencic – Round of 16 – Preview & Prediction | 2023 Australian Open
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THE FACTS
When is Aryna Sabalenka vs Belinda Bencic on and what time does it start? Aryna Sabalenka vs Belinda Bencic will take place on Monday 23rd January, 2023 – not before 00:00 (UK)
Where is Aryna Sabalenka vs Belinda Bencic taking place? Aryna Sabalenka vs Belinda Bencic will take place at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia
What surface is Aryna Sabalenka vs Belinda Bencic being played on? Aryna Sabalenka vs Belinda Bencic will take place on an outdoor hard court
Where can I get tickets for Aryna Sabalenka vs Belinda Bencic? Visit this link for the latest ticket information for Aryna Sabalenka vs Belinda Bencic
What channel is Aryna Sabalenka vs Belinda Bencic on in the UK? Aryna Sabalenka vs Belinda Bencic will be televised live on Eurosport
Where can I stream Aryna Sabalenka vs Belinda Bencic in the UK? Eurosport subscribers can stream Aryna Sabalenka vs Belinda Bencic live on their website, while Sky Sports subscribers can stream the match live on Sky Go
THE LOWDOWN
ARYNA SABALENKA
World number five Aryna Sabalenka survived a test from Elise Mertens on Saturday to make it seven wins on the spin in 2023 after claiming the 11th WTA title of her career at Adelaide 1. The 24-year-old is yet to drop a set this year as her potent serve looks to be under control once again, with her last defeat seeing her finish runner-up to Caroline Garcia at the WTA Finals in November. Sabalenka has reached the round of 16 in each of her last three appearances in Melbourne but back-to-back semi-final exits at the US Open, losing on bot occasions to eventual champions Emma Raducanu and Iga Swiatek, suggest she is well capable of making the final here.
BELINDA BENCIC
World number 10 Belinda Bencic is yet to drop a set this week in Melbourne after an impressive result against Camila Giorgi in the third round on Saturday. The 25-year-old is riding a seven-match winning streak of her own from Adelaide 2 two weeks ago, where she beat Caroline Garcia, Garbine Muguruza and then thrashed Daria Kasatkina in the final. Bencic has not reached this stage of the Australian Open since doing so as a teenager back in 2016 but she reached the semi-finals of the US Open in 2019 before defeat to eventual champion Bianca Andreescu.
THE PREDICTION
Aryna Sabalenka and Belinda Bencic looked two of the top contenders coming into the Australian Open with their respective winning streaks from Adelaide 1 and 2. It is not an understatement to suggest that the winner of the tournament comes from this likely thriller on Sunday and it is seriously hard to pick between two players maximising their offensive weapons at present. The pair share a finely poised 1-1 head-to-head record but they have not met since early 2019 to suggest this will be a significantly different test for both. Sabalenka has won at least a set in both of their previous meetings, though, and that looks the most sensible way to avoid picking a winner here.
