Aryna Sabalenka vs Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA Mutua Madrid Open

Prediction published on 06/05/2021, 06:44  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 06/05/2021 at 07:45 in Tennis Predictions

Aryna Sabalenka has continued her good start to the clay court season. After losing to Ashleigh Barty in the Stuttgart final, she is through to the Madrid Open semi-final and takes on Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. A win could see her taking on Barty again if she can beat Paula Badosa in her semi-final. Sabalenka is the fifth seed for this tournament and ranked seventh in the world but could be as high as fifth in the next ranking list. In Stuttgart she beat world number three Simona Halep and her form has been even better in Madrid. Only 13 games have been dropped in her four matches. Her quarter final saw her defeat her doubles partner Elise Mertens 6-1 4-0 (ret), a great result on what was her 23rd birthday.  This is her first time past the first round in Madrid but Sabalenka is proving to be a much improved player on clay this year.

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova is unseeded and ranked 41st at the world. A place in the top 30 is likely after her run in this tournament but still way behind her best ever ranking of 11th. Wins have come against sixth seeded Karolina Pliskova and Jennifer Brady (11th). The last eight saw her get a win over Karolina Muchova, both sets going to tie-breaks. The Russian has won three WTA Tour clay court tournaments, but the last one was three years ago. This is her best ever run in Madrid, beating her quarter final appearance 10 years ago. It's a return to form after a disappointing year so far. That quarter final win took over two hours, she's played a lot more than her opponent and that may well affect her here. Go for Sabalenka to win in straight sets.