Sorana Cirstea vs Victoria Azarenka Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA National Bank Open

Prediction published on 10/08/2021, 09:57  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 10/08/2021 at 10:58 in Tennis Predictions

Eighth seeded Victoria Azarenka begins her bid to win the National Bank Open against Sorana Cirstea. This is a second round match in this WTA1000 event. Azarenka is the world number 15 and received a first round bye. The year began with Azarenka ranked 13th in the world and earlier in 2021 reached the semi-finals in Doha but had to pull out of her match against Garbine Muguruza with an injury that kept her on the sidelines for most of April. Azarenka got to the last 16 at Roland Garros and on grass made it to the semi-finals in Berlin and the last eight in Homburg where she again gave her opponent a walkover. Azarenka lost in the second round at Wimbledon and that just happened to be against her opponent in this match. Azarenka had beaten Cirstea in three previous matches played before this year's Wimbledon including one won without losing a game. That match at Wimbledon was their first in 12 years!This is her first tournament since then.

Sorana Cirstea began this week ranked 40th and is up to 38th after her first round victory. The Romanian has been climbing the rankings as she began the year in 71st place. Cirstea has won one title this year. That came in Istanbul on clay in April where she beat top seeded Elise Mertens in the final. Another clay court final was reached the following month in Strasbourg, losing to Barbora Krejcikova after earlier beating Bianca Andreescu who is the defending champion in this tournament. Cirstea made the last 16 at Roland Garros and the third round at Wimbledon. After beating Azarenka, Cirstea lost to Emma Radcanu. Like Azarenka, this is her first tournament since that Grand Slam. Cirstea beat Alison Riske in straight sets in the first round. Azarenka will want to get some wins under her belt before the US Open and can get the win here.