Three to See, Rome Day 3: Azarenka vs. Stephens; Sabalenka vs. Kenin; Pegula vs. Townsend

WATCH: TayTay chats with Prakash in Rome

Victoria Azarenka vs. Sloane Stephens

It has been 10 years since Azarenka received one of the most controversial medical time-outs in tennis history. It happened in the 2013 Australian Open semifinals, just as Stephens was about to serve to try to stay in the match—a major breach of sportsmanship, in the eyes of many. Now, in what seems like a different era entirely, they’ll face off in the second round in Rome.

That match in Melbourne was their first; this will be their ninth. The head-to-head is knotted at 4-4. Azarenka is three years older (33 to 30), but she’s ranked 19 spots higher (17 to 36), and she just returned to the semis in Australia this past January. Stephens, though, has a game better-suited to clay, and she’s coning off a potentially revivifying title run at a 125K event in Saint Malo, France last week.

This edition of their rivalry, which is up first in Campo Centrale on Thursday, likely won’t come with the fireworks of a decade ago. But it should be an intriguing chess match, between Azarenka’s controlled aggression and Stephens’ knack for power absorption. Winner: Stephens

Aryna Sabalenka vs. Sofia Kenin

The night session in Centrale begins with a contest between recent Australian Open champions, who won their titles in very different ways. The 5-foot-7 Kenin won her title in 2020, when the surface Down Under was a little slower, with a steady, varied blend of offense and defense. The 6-foot-0 Sabalenka won hers four months ago, when the surface was a little quicker, with a first-strike attack that came from all sides—serve, forehand, and backhand.

They played twice in 2018, and Sabalenka won both times. That may seem like a surprise, judging by the fact that Kenin matured as a player much earlier. In reality, though, Sabalenka is a year older than Kenin. More important, she’s 132 spots higher in the rankings. Winner: Sabalenka

Jessica Pegula vs. Taylor Townsend

As with Sabalenka vs. Kenin, ages can be deceiving in this all-American matchup, which will happen later in the day in the Grand Stand. Townsend, who was highly touted as a teenager, is actually two years younger (27 to 29) than Pegula, who has only come onto most fans’ radar in the last three or four years.

The rankings—Pegula is No. 3, Townsend No. 168—say this shouldn’t be a contest. The surface would also seem to favor a consistent counterpuncher like Pegula. But the head-to-head suggests it could be competitive: Townsend leads 2-1, and she won their recent match, at the Australian Open in January 2022.

If nothing else, we’ll see a stark contrast in styles. Townsend will mix her spins, change up her shot selection, and charge the net; Pegula will counter with a steady diet of flat strikes from the baseline. Winner: Pegula