REVEALED! Aryna Sabalenka’s potential path to claim her maiden Australian Open title!


REVEALED! Aryna Sabalenka’s potential path to claim her maiden Australian Open title!

Aryna Sabalenka

Aryna Sabalenka has had a standout 2021. The 23-year-old has had an incredible clay-court season, winning the Madrid Open and making it to the finals at Stuttgart. Having reached the semi-finals of back-to-back grand slams at the Wimbledon and US Open she reached a career-high ranking of World No. 2. Her rise saw her be the top seed going into the year-end WTA finals, where she did disappoint after exiting at the group stage.

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The Belarusian has not started the new season very well, going out early in both her warm-up tournament before the Australian Open. However, the World No.2 would be confident going into the Grand after an amazing 2021, and would be one of the favourites to win the title.

Sabalenka would start off her campaign with a first-round tie against Australian Storm Sanders, who received a wild card for the tournament. She’ll then probably take on Ann Li of the USA in the second round.

In the third round, the Belarusian would face 31st seeded Marketa Vondrousova, who’ll be her first seeded opponent in this year’s tournament. Provided she wins against Vondrousova, she’ll have a potentially tricky fourth-round fixture against either former World No.1 Angelique Kerber or US Open 2020 finalist Leylah Fernandez. This would potentially be Sabalenka’s first big test of the tournament.

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Sabalenka to meet Swiatek in the Quarter final

Aryna Sabalenka
Aryna Sabalenka

If Sabalenka wins in the previous round, she’ll set up a mouth-watering clash against World No.8 Iga Swiatek in the quarter-finals. This is where it stays getting genuinely tough for the 23-year-old, who’ll have to be at her absolute best to proceed from this round.

Muguruza or Kontaveit challenge awaits in the semis

Aryna Sabalenka
Aryna Sabalenka

If Sabalenka wins her tough match-up against Swiatek, she’ll have no respite as she’ll be greeted by either World No.3 Garbine Muguruza or Estonian Annet Kontaveit in the last four stage. The Belarusian would have no scope to put even a foot wrong against either of them, as both are among the top players in the world currently. Muguruza especially is herself a favourite for the tournament and would look to push Sabalenka to her limits.

Sabalenka vs Barty in the Final!

Aryna Sabalenka
Aryna Sabalenka

Aryna Sabalenka will again not get any time to relax as she’ll be presented by an even tougher opponent in the final in the form of Ashleigh Barty. The Australian is arguably the best player in women’s tennis and is the overall favourite to win the tournament. Thus, even after such a gruelling campaign, Barty would be the favourite in the final if Sabalenka reaches this far.

Paula Badosa’s path to the 2022 Australian Open title (based on seedings):

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  • R1: Storm Sanders
  • R2: Ann Li
  • R3: Marketa Vondrousova
  • R4: Leylah Fernandez/ Angelique Kerber
  • QF: Iga Swiatek
  • SF: Garbine Muguruza/ Annet Kontaveit
  • F: Ashleigh Barty

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