The last time Sabalenka and Andreeva met at a Grand Slam, it was the teenager who earned a 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-4 win. That was in the quarterfinals of Roland Garros last year, and there will surely be some interest in backing Andreeva because of that. However, Sabalenka had a bit of a stomach virus leading into that match. Based on that unusual circumstance, the results of their other matches, you might want to flush that performance.
In four other meetings with Andreeva, including a one-set match in World Tennis League, Sabalenka is 4-0 and hasn’t dropped a set. Also, every one of those matches featured at least one set in which Sabalenka won 6-2. Sabalenka also came away with a 6-3, 6-2 beatdown of Andreeva in Brisbane two weeks ago.
As of right now, it just seems like Sabalenka has a little too much strength and power for Andreeva. The teen is a world-class defensive player, but she’s still lacking some punch when it comes to both the serve and the forehand. She deserves credit in doing what was necessary against Sabalenka in very slow conditions—but things are much faster in Melbourne, even if the courts are playing a little slower than usual.
