Bet du Jour: Bianca Andreescu vs. Victoria Azarenka, Roland Garros

Both players are struggling of late, but the Canadian's baseline variety gives her a good shot at taking things to Vika.

ByZachary Cohen

Published May 29, 2023

The Break: Luca Pouille's Journey Back From Depression

Advertising

The Break: Lucas Pouille's Journey Back From Depression

In one of the more exciting opening-round match-ups at Roland Garros, two-time Grand Slam champion Victoria Azarenka faces 2019 US Open champion Bianca Andreescu on Tuesday. Azarenka enters the match as a pretty significant favorite to win, but I’m not sure the Belarusian is deserving of that. While Andreescu hasn’t played well since returning from a significant ankle injury she suffered at the Miami Open, Azarenka is also struggling coming into this match. With that in mind, I like Andreescu to win at least one set.

Azarenka had to withdraw from Rome because of a leg injury, so she’s not exactly at 100% health here. And the world No. 18 is also just 3-5 in her last eight matches, and she hasn’t been able to consistently string together wins this season. So, with Azarenka not close to her top form, why not back Andreescu to force a decider, at the very least?

Advertising

Andreescu has great touch for a player with her strength.

The Canadian is coming into this event having lost back-to-back matches, but one of those was a tight three-setter against Xiyu Wang, and the other at the hands of Marketa Vondrousova, who is one of the better clay-court players in the women’s game. Andreescu should also improve the further away she gets from her ankle injury. She has now had a few weeks to recover from that, so don’t be surprised if she looks a lot more mobile against Azarenka.

Andreescu just has a lot more variety to her game than Azarenka. Sure, Azarenka is a very good server and can outmuscle her opponents from the baseline. But the Belarusian can also struggle with her movement, and she can really spray unforced errors when she is off her game. Plus, Andreescu has the ability to throw her off by mixing things up from the baseline. Andreescu has great touch for a player with her strength, so she’ll be able to keep Azarenka guessing throughout this one.

I just don’t see a scenario in which Andreescu doesn’t win at least one set in this match, and I also think the Canadian has a very good chance of winning this one outright. So, the moneyline is also worth a sprinkle here.

Bet: Andreescu +1.5 Sets (-150)

Advertising