Aryna Sabalenka would like to better last year's US Open result, but she'll need to down Maryna Zanevska first if she wants to do that.
Sabalenka made her way to the US Open semi-final last year, taking the first set against Iga Swiatek but losing in three sets. It was a disappointing result for Sabalenka but also one that should give her confidence ahead of this year.
The conditions suit her; she can play well in New York, and with her newfound confidence this year, she's going to be a serious threat to win it all. Sabalenka faces Zanevska in the first round, a player she never faced before.
Head-to-head:
The Belarusian knows Zanevska as the Belgian is hardly unknown on the WTA Tour, but they never shared the court together. This will be the first meeting, and it will likely be a win for Sabalenka due to the matchup that heavily favours her.
Prediction:
Besides just being the more talented player, Sabalenka plays with a lot of force that can only be matched by a few players. There is a reason why she was compared to Serena Williams by many; even some big hitters like Rybakina and Swiatek sometimes struggle with her.
Zanevska is not a big hitter, hardly a hitter at all, and her hard court record shows that. It's not her best surface, she doesn't play that well on it, and she's going to be in a lot of trouble against Sabalenka. There are not many ways how she can beat the Belarusian.
There is always a chance that Sabalenka struggles to serve well and hits the ball out of the stadium, but that's been rarely the case this year. It generally doesn't happen without assistance, but first, Zanevska would need to put some pressure.
Prediction: Aryna Sabalenka to win in two sets.
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