Elena Rybakina vs Victoria Azarenka Prediction: Is Victoria being underestimated again?

The semifinal between Rybakina and Azarenka will take place on January 26, 2023, on the Australian court in Melbourne.

Elena confidently, one could even say without much difficulty, outplayed Ostapenko in the Australian Open quarterfinals. The match lasted one hour and 20 minutes, and Ostapenko took only six games in two sets. Rybakina had 11 aces and three double faults, winning 76% of points on the first serve and 50% on the second serve. On the receiving end, Elena had the following statistics: 45%/45%, winners/unforced errors: 24/21. Before beating Ostapenko, Rybakina knocked out Cocciaretto, Juvan, Collins, and Swiatek. Elena's current intermediate ranking is 12th; should she win in the semifinals, Elena will definitely move up to the WTA top 10.

Victoria started the tournament ranked 24th, and now Azarenka is 16th; if she wins the semifinals, she will become the WTA number 11. It should be remembered that Azarenka has been a two-time Melbourne triumphant, something the bookmakers clearly didn't consider when putting the line on her quarterfinal match against Pegula. Victoria gave the American a fight. Moreover, Azarenka only allowed Jessica to take five games in two sets. The match lasted one hour and 39 minutes. Azarenka won 68% on her first serve and 52% on her second serve. Her reception statistics were 50%/62%, and winners/unforced errors statistics were 17/20. Before beating Pegula, Azarenka knocked American Kenin and Keys, Argentine Podoroska, and Chinese Zhu Lin out of the tournament.

Elena and Victoria played each other once at the Indian Wells tournament in 2022 in the last 32. Rybakina won that match in two sets, 6-3, 6-4, in one hour and 36 minutes.

Elena is very good now, but after all, Azarenka is not inferior to Rybakina either. Bookmakers have again made Azarenka the outsider despite several victories over strong opponents. This is a slight underestimation of the capabilities of Victoria, who has won twice in her career in Melbourne. In this pairing, we're on the outsider side. Rybakina will have to try very hard to make it to the finals of the Australian Open.