Madison Keys vs. Victoria Azarenka
Did you know that Keys has never beaten Azarenka? Vika’s 3-0 record, which includes a win in Guadalajara as recently as last fall, came as a surprise to me. The American has had the higher ranking of the two recently, and I’ve always thought of her as a player who can beat anyone on any given day.
Has that day finally come for her against Azarenka? While Vika is the two-time title winner in Melbourne, Keys likes Australia, too. She made the semifinals last year, and she came out looking sharp in United Cup this season.
But at 33, Azarenka has been making unexpected—to me, at least—late-career inroads. She’s in the Top 25 again, she reached the fourth round at the US Open and the semifinals at the WTA 1000 in Guadalajara, and she won her last match, against Nadia Podoroska, 6-0, 6-1. She seems to be one good win from being a threat again.
But I don’t think she’ll get it here. These days, Keys at her best should have enough, even if Vika is on her game, too. Winner: Keys