The defending champion’s next dominant performance?
She either failed in the first round of the Australian Open or made it through to the round of 16. Amanda Anisimova’s four appearances at the traditionally first Grand Slam tournament of the calendar year can be quickly summarized as follows. She could now reach the round of the best eight players for the first time. However, there is not much to suggest that Amanda Anisimova’s bet on the American winning against Aryna Sabalenka will work out
Not only is Aryna Sabalenka the defending champion at the Australian Open, but she also marched into the last 16 of the hard-court Grand Slam tournament in Melbourne at lightning speed. The Belarusian conceded just six games over the course of the tournament. In three matches, mind you, all of which she won confidently and effortlessly 2-0. Consequently, our prediction for Amanda Anisimova against Aryna Sabalenka is that the world number two will win
While Ella Seidel and Brenda Fruhvirtová may not have been major touchstones in the first two rounds, Aryna Sabalenka recently came up against an opponent from the seed list for the first time in the round of 16 with Lesia Tsurenko. Surprisingly, this was her clearest match, in which she mercilessly sent her opponent home with her glasses (6:0 and 6:0).
We do believe that the American, who leads the head-to-head comparison 4:1 against the Belarusian, is capable of winning one or two matches. In our opinion, however, the greatest value is provided by a handicap of -5.5 games on the defending champion
Amanda Anisimova – Statistics & current form
Current position in the world rankings: 442
Position in the seeding list: Protected Ranking
The 22-year-old American Amanda Anisimova was once regarded as one of the most promising tennis talents in the United States of America. The New Jersey-born player with Russian roots made her debut at Grand Slam level back in 2017 and promptly celebrated her very first victory in a women’s singles match at the French Open at the tender age of 15.
Two years later, the now 17-year-old even reached the semi-finals at Roland Garros. To this day, however, she has yet to achieve a truly resounding success in the form of a major title. The two singles titles of her career on the WTA Tour were both won at small tournaments in the WTA International and WTA 250 categories
How good has the break been for Amanda Anisimova?
The American even took a break for almost seven months due to mental problems and burnout before returning for the start of the 2024 season in Auckland, where she lost to Marie Bouzkova (WTA 36) in the round of 16 after a 2-0 win over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (WTA 60).
The 22-year-old was allowed to take part in the main draw of the women’s singles at the Australian Open thanks to the protected ranking rule. She caught Liudmila Samsonova, the number 13 seed, cold as ice in round one. With three very convincing 2-0 victories overall, Anisimova reached the last 16 of the Australian Open for the third time after 2019 and 2022
Anisimova stormed into the round of 16 with hyper-aggressive play
This is where her run in Melbourne has ended twice in the past. Now, however, she faces an old acquaintance against whom she has won four of their five previous meetings. Among other things, Anisimova knocked the world number two out of the Australian Open back in 2019.
Nevertheless, the odds are clearly against Amanda Anisimova against Aryna Sabalenka this time, as the 22-year-old not only has a long break in her bones but is now up against one of the most in-form players on the WTA Tour. In view of the fact that she also made 29 unforced errors in her third-round win over Paula Badosa (WTA 100), playing far too riskily at times, her overly aggressive approach could now quickly blow up in her face
Aryna Sabalenka – statistics & current form
Current position in the world rankings: 2
Position in the seeding list: 2
The 25-year-old Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka is undoubtedly one of the best players on the WTA Tour. She “only” finished the 2023 season in second place in the WTA world rankings. However, the lady from Minsk reached at least the semi-finals at all four Grand Slam tournaments and the WTA Finals.
At the Australian Open 2023, the player from Belarus even hit the big time when she secured a coveted Grand Slam trophy in singles for the first time in her career. As the defending champion, she is now naturally aiming to repeat this feat
Arnya Sabalenka continues her strong form in 2024
Arnya Sabalenka is a highly decorated player. In addition to the Grand Slam trophy, she also has five overall victories at major tournaments in the WTA 1000 category, which should be followed by further title wins in the new season.
It almost worked out at the preparatory tournament in Brisbane. However, after four wins, the Belarusian then lost 2-0 to Elena Rybakina (WTA 4) in the final. It was her only defeat from eight singles matches played so far in the 2024 calendar year
Sabalenka recently with frightening dominance
Although the head-to-head record speaks against her, Amanda Anisimova’s win against Aryna Sabalenka is a very favorable bet for the woman from Minsk. In the course of the tournament, the 25-year-old lost just six games in total and won three times with a commanding 2:0.
While the German Ella Seidel almost got the glasses in round one (6:1 and 6:0), Lesia Tsurenko suffered the same humiliation in her third round match (6:0 and 6:0). The Belarusian needed just 55 minutes against the WTA world number 33 and scored 69 percent of her points on both her own serve and returns. Values that are second to none and underline the strong form of the defending champion.
Amanda Anisimova – Aryna Sabalenka Direct comparison / H2H result
Head to head: 4:1
There have been a total of five meetings between the two players so far and, surprisingly, Amanda Anisimova leads the head-to-head with four wins. The American eliminated the Belarusian 2-0 in the third round of the Australian Open in 2019, but was beaten 2-1 for the first time in their last encounter to date in the quarter-finals of the 2022 Italian Open in Rome.
Amanda Anisimova – Aryna Sabalenka tip
Although the “head to head” comparison adds a very interesting facet to this match, it ultimately does not change the fact that our prediction for Amanda Anisimova against Aryna Sabalenka is clearly in favor of the defending champion from Belarus. The world number two was once again too dominant over the course of the tournament when she gave Lesia Tsurenko the infamous glasses in the third round (6:0 and 6:0).
In our opinion, the American is also unlikely to be a stumbling block for the Belarusian, who has a strong game and form. We are therefore boldly betting on the world number two to progress with a handicap of -5.5 games
