Jessica Pegula vs Victoria Azarenka Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA Australian Open

Prediction published on 22/01/2023, 10:51  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 22/01/2023 at 17:09 in Tennis Predictions

Jessica Pegula is now the highest seed left in the women's singles at the 2023 Australian Open. The third seed takes on Victoria Azarenka who is seeded 24th but has won this title on two previous occasions. Pegula can move up to second in the live rankings if reaching her first ever Grand Slam semi-final. The American made it to the last eight in three of last year's Grand Slams but has never progressed further. This is the third successive year in which she has reached the last eight of the Australian Open. Pegula has started the year in great form and formed part of the USA team that won the United Cup. Four of her five matches were won with the other being a loss to Petra Kvitova. Her form has continued to be highly impressive with four straight sets wins and only 18 games dropped. Just five were lost as the 28-year-old beat Barbora Krejcikova in the last 16.

It's ten years since Victoria Azarenka won the second of her Australian Open titles. 2021 and 2022 saw her face Pegula on four occasions and the score is level at 2-2. Azarenka has won two of the last three but the most recent match in Guadaljara last year saw the American win in straight sets. Their first meeting was in this tournament two years ago with Pegula winning in straight sets. Victoria Azarenka is in her first quarter final in Melbourne since 2016. Aside from reaching the US Open final in 2021, this is her first last eight appearance in a Grand Slam in the past seven years. This tournament began with Azarenka ranked 24th but in the live rankings, she's up to 20th and can climb up to 15th with a win over Pegula. Azarenka played two warm-up tournaments and her best performance was a quarter final in the first Adelaide tournament, though she did get beaten by a player ranked outside the top 100. In this Australian Open, the last two rounds have seen her face Madison Keys and Zhu Lin, having to come from behind in both to win. Pegula is in great form and can be backed to win this quarter final.