{"id":54440,"date":"2023-01-24T20:56:11","date_gmt":"2023-01-25T01:56:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/?p=54440"},"modified":"2023-01-24T23:39:36","modified_gmt":"2023-01-25T04:39:36","slug":"australian-open-womens-semifinal-predictions-azarenka-ryabkina","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/2023\/01\/24\/australian-open-womens-semifinal-predictions-azarenka-ryabkina\/","title":{"rendered":"Australian Open Women’s Semifinal Predictions: Victoria Azarenka vs Elena Ryabkina"},"content":{"rendered":"

Both semifinal matches at the Australian Open will be contested on Thursday. One of those two matches is already set. The second will be finalized shortly after we publish this article. As always, our writers here at LWOT will share their thoughts on the matches with you. (Editor’s Note: Now that it’s set, we also have predictions for the other semifinal match<\/a>.<\/em>) Predicting this mouth-watering semifinal clash–a battle of previous Grand Slam champions–are Jim Smith, Damian Kust, Yesh Ginsburg, Jack Edward, and Nurein Ahmed. Who do you think will win?<\/p>\n

Australian Open Women’s Semifinal Predictions<\/h2>\n

Victoria Azarenka vs Elena Ryabkina<\/h4>\n

Jim:<\/em>
\nThis promises to be a thrilling match. Both women have excelled so far at the Australian Open<\/a> and, whilst the occasion will be momentous, both have the experience of Grand Slam success behind them. Rybakina\u2019s is more recent<\/a>, but Azarenka\u2019s is more extensive. But as well as both women have played, this fortnight and in the past, it\u2019s hard to look past Rybakina as the favorite.<\/p>\n

The Kazakh has the better serve and more power off the ground. Azarenka moves better and returns better, but her advantages in those areas are slighter than in the areas where Rybakina has the edge. There probably won\u2019t be much in it, but that should actually end up making Rybakina\u2019s narrow advantages more significant, especially because she back herself to swing freely when it matters most.
\nPrediction: Rybakina in 3<\/em><\/p>\n

Damian:<\/em>
\nBest serve of the tournament against the best return? Sign me up. Rybakina will hopefully be treated more seriously from now on<\/a> as her Wimbledon<\/a> title really should have given her recognition than it did. Azarenka is on a vintage run like at New York a few years ago and while she’s probably not as fierce a baseliner as she was in her prime, you could make an argument she’s more complete.<\/p>\n

I believe Rybakina’s first serve can give her the edge here if it’s clicking and set her up for some easy short rallies.
\nPrediction: Rybakina in 3<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Yesh:<\/h5>\n

<\/em>
\nIt took Victoria Azarenka years to find her game again, after a pregnancy hiatus followed by a custody battle<\/a>. Now, though, she’s finally at close to her best–beating the elites at the biggest of tournaments. The Belorussian hasn’t looked unbeatable this event, but she’s improved as the tournament has gone on. This should be a very tight match. But, quite frankly, Azarenka’s demolition of Jessica Pegula was more impressive to me than even Ryabkina’s victory over Iga Swiatek.
\nPrediction: Azarenka in 3<\/em><\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>