Irina Camelia Begu vs Aryna Sabalenka Prediction: Aryna to Rock The Match

On Saturday, second seed Aryna Sabalenka will face World No. 34 Irina-Camelia Begu in the semifinals of the 2023 Adelaide International 1.

Begu took three sets to beat Shelby Rogers, but she dominated Jelena Ostapenko in the second round, winning 6-3, 6-0. In the quarterfinals, she faced World No. 10 Veronika Kudermetova.

In the first set, the Russian stormed up to a 3-1 lead. After that, the duo struggled to maintain serve, with six breaks of service in the following eight games. Begu won the opening by turning the tables on her opponent. Halfway through the second set, both players were able to keep up with each other.

The pair broke each other's serves, with Begu grabbing an extra break to lead 5-4. After then, the Romanian served out the match to win 7-5, 6-4 and record her eighth career top-10 victory.

Sabalenka faced Liudmila Samsonova in the second round after a first-round bye and won in two tough sets. In the opening set, she even saved seven set points. In the quarterfinals, she faced 2019 French Open runner-up Marketa Vondrousova.

Sabalenka had to save a couple of break points in the first game of the match, but she quickly found her stride. She consistently put Vondrousova under strain during her service games, and she broke in the sixth game to go up 4-2.

The Belarussian missed a pair of set points on her opponent's serve in the eighth game, but she served out the set herself the next game. Sabalenka had a 4-1 lead in the second set but then crumbled. Vondrousova leveled the score at 5-5, preserving a match point in the process.

Sabalenka rallied just in time, winning the following two games to win the match 6-3, 7-5.

The Belarussian's serve has mostly stayed together, avoiding a flurry of double faults and shaky second serves. She may easily knock her opponent off the court if she is entirely concentrated. Begu has won their lone encounter so far, but Sabalenka appears to be in fine shape and will be more prepared this time.

• Total Over 20.5 for 1.83
• Handiсap Aryna Sabalenka (-4) for 1.832
• Individual Total 1 Under 10.5 for 1.82