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PREVIEW: 2022 WTA Tour – Volvo Car Open selected Ro16 matches

Damien Kayat previews the WTA Tour’s Volvo Car Open matches featuring Aryna Sabalenka vs Amanda Anisimova as well as Madison Keys vs Belinda Bencic.

Madison Keys
Image copyright - Steve Haag Sport

Damien Kayat previews the WTA Tour’s Volvo Car Open matches featuring Aryna Sabalenka vs Amanda Anisimova as well as Madison Keys vs Belinda Bencic.

Two women looking excitedly at cellphone

2022 WTA Tour
WTA 500
Volvo Car Open
LTP-Daniel Island (Outdoor Clay-court)
Selected Round of 16 Matches- 7th April

Aryna Sabalenka (1) (4/6) vs Amanda Anisimova (15) (11/10)

23 -year-old Aryna Sabelenka has been one of the most frustrating players in the upper reaches of the women’s game. Her huge serve and powerful groundstrokes have seen her win some huge titles on the WTA Tour. But she just can’t seem to make that next necessary step up the ladder.

However, two Grand Slam semi-final appearances in 2021 did point to some progression. But 2022 has been a slog for the hard-hitting Belarusian. She came into this year’s Volvo Car Open with a 6-7 record for the year. But a hard-fought victory over Alison Riske has taken her record to an even 7-7. It is a fairly well-known fact that clay isn’t Sabalenka’s strong suit. She much prefers the faster surfaces as they allow her serve to literally dictate matches. But she did win her 4th WTA 1000 title in Madrid last year. Crucially, she beat then world No.1 Ashleigh Barty in the final.

Sabalenka has dropped to number five in the world and needs to pick up some momentum. She doesn’t want to lose too many ranking points in this uncertain post-Barty period.

20-year-old American Amanda Anisimova should thrive on these surfaces. She burst onto the scene in 2019 by reaching Roland Garros semi-finals (in the process becoming the youngest French Open semi-finalist since Vadisova in 2006).

That was also the year she won her maiden WTA title (also on clay). Anisimova seemed to be a player on the rise. But the last two years have been difficult for the American. She- like many young players- probably battled with the huge disruption caused by the Covid hiatus. I think that it’s taken time for her to rediscover her form. But she began this year in pretty intimidating fashion. She won her 2nd WTA title at the Melbourne Summer Set.

She then impressed with a confident run at the Aussie Open. She beat defending Aussie Open champ Naomi Osaka en route to a 4th round showing (she would ultimately lose to eventual champion Ashleigh Barty in straight-sets). Her form has dipped quite markedly since Melbourne. But she shined in her Charleston opener, thrashing Yulia Putintseva 6-1, 6-2. She will fancy her chances on this surface against an out of sorts Sabalenka.

The Verdict: Anisimova to win at 11/10- This one looks like perfect upset fare. Anisimova actually has a 2-0 head-to-head record against Sabalenka. Furthermore, their last meeting came on clay at the 2019 French Open.

Anisimova is a top clay-court player who can use Sabalenka’s power against her. This is a tricky encounter because neither player is bringing great form into this event. But I think that there’s enough evidence to point towards an American upset.

Madison Keys (9) (8/11) vs Belinda Bencic (10) (1/1)

This has been quite a year for 27-year-old Madison Keys. The American fell out of the world’s top 50 last year after seasons of inconsistency. Keys is a Grand Slam specialist, reaching five semi-finals in her career. It has helped to mitigate her less consistent showings in regular tour events. But she seems to have found some real consistency this year. She is 15-6 for the season, winning a title in Adelaide and reaching her 5th Grand Slam semi-final at the Aussie Open.

She also went on to reach the quarterfinals at Indian Wells. Keys breezed past Ulrikke Eikeri in the opening match and she will be looking to extend her excellent Charleston record. Keys is a former two-time finalist in this event (winning the title in 2019)c. She is an accomplished clay-court practitioner who has reached the semi-finals at Roland Garros.

Belinda Bencic will be feeling confident after reaching a much-needed semi-final in Miami. Last year’s Olympic Gold Medallist hadn’t reached another WTA semi-final since June last year. And she pushed a resurgent Naomi Osaka all the way in Miami. Bencic has always been a consistent player on all surfaces. But clay is certainly her weakest arena (she only has a 50% record at the French Open).

But she produced a couple of decent results in this tournament. She has reached a semi-final and quarterfinal on two different occasions in Charleston. Bencic’s performance in Miami elevated her record for the year to 9-6. She just improved to 10-6 with a solid showing against rising Czech teenager Linda Fruhvirtova.

This should make for a fascinating clash between two sleeping giants of the women’s game.

The Verdict: Keys to win in three at 10/3- Keys holds a 2-1 advantage in the head-to-head stakes. This includes a win in their last meeting in Doha last year. Keys also won their only previous meeting on clay (though you have to go all the way back to the 2015 French Open to find that).

I think that Keys has the edge on this surface and could outlast Bencic over three sets. Bencic’s incredible backhand just won’t pierce this court in the same way it did in Miami.

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