Mon 23 Mar, 18:20
Aryna Sabalenka enters this match as the absolute favorite and rightfully so. The ranking gap of 25 positions (#1 vs #26) is massive in tennis, and Sabalenka is currently in excellent form with 4 consecutive wins. The key factor is that Sabalenka dominated in their only recent meeting on the same surface - hardcourt outdoor in Miami a year ago, winning 2-0 (6-2, 7-5). Zheng is currently going through a difficult period with 3 straight losses and appears to be struggling with form. Her recent clay court form hasn't translated to hardcourt, where she lost her only recent match. Sabalenka has experience playing in big tournaments and under pressure, which will be crucial in this Round of 16 encounter. Her powerful baseline game and strong serve should dominate against Zheng who appears unsettled in her current form.
Odds of 1.17 reflect reality - Sabalenka is #1 in the world in excellent form against #26 who is going through a crisis. Previous H2H and current form make this a safe bet.
Expecting a dominant 2-0 performance from Sabalenka. Zheng is in poor form and Sabalenka won 6-2, 7-5 in their previous meeting. Short matches are likely when the quality gap is this large.
Sabalenka won 2-0 in their previous meeting on the same surface. Zheng is in her worst form of the season with 3 straight losses, while Sabalenka is on 4 consecutive wins. Expecting a clear 2-0 victory.