World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka will face Anhelina Kalinina in an upcoming match on Saturday at the 2024 WTA Miami tennis tournament. This will be a round-of-32 match in the 2024 Miami Open draw, one that is scheduled for a little later in the day. Sabalenka, who has been in the headlines this week due to the passing of her boyfriend, is a very heavy favorite in the match, priced at -1000 (bet365). My Sabalenka vs Kalinina prediction is that the latter player will win from the perspective of game handicaps (+6.5).
Schedule: Right-click/Open in the New Tab to check match times: subject to change
Aryna Sabalenka vs Anhelina Kalinina Head-to-Head Series
The Sabalenka vs Kalinina h2h is 0-0, making this their first meeting on the WTA Tour. Kalanina is the World No. 36 right now while Sabalenka entered the tournament as the World No. 2.
The Draw: Right-click/Open the link in a new tab for the draw for the 2024 Miami Open
Aryna Sabalenka's Recent Matches and Results
Sabalenka had a bye through the first round. In the second round, she had little trouble with Paula Badosa, winning in straight sets 6-4, 6-3. Sabalenka only allowed Badosa to have a look at one breakpoint opportunity in the match, a point that Sabalenka saved.
Earlier this month, the World No. 2 was in Indian Wells, where she went 2-1 in the draw. She has not had a good result since winning the Australian Open earlier this season. However, her potential to break out and win a title in any tournament she enters is clear.
Anhelina Kalinina's Recent Matches and Results
Kalinina had a bye through the first round. In the second round, she eliminated Caroline Wozniacki in a three-set match on March 21st. This was a 34-game match that Kalinina won 6-4 in the third. Wozniacki did not serve great in the match, going 1-7 on aces to double faults and winning just 55% of her first-serve points. It's this poor serving that may have helped Kalinina advance.
Last week in Indian Wells, Kalinina went out in her first match. She did win a few matches in Austin earlier this month, however, that is not a tournament that had many talented players.
Sabalenka vs Kalinina Prediction: Kalinina +6.5 games
Many had to be wondering where Sabalenka would be mentally for this tournament, following the unexpected passing of her boyfriend. Some conjectured that she might have pulled out of the tournament.
For bettors, I think they can just ask themselves if Sabalenka is worth taking at -1000, even if we're expecting a mentally strong version of this player (bet365). With the losses to Donna Vekic and Emma Navarro in recent events, Sabalenka can't be taken at -1000.
I think bettors should be with Kalinina on game handicaps in this match. She is out at +6.5 and odds of -138 (bet365). If you are worried that she might be tired after the long match against Wozniacki, Kalinina did have a day off on March 22nd after the long match. You can hope that Sabalenka is not at the top of her game as she has not been at her sharpest since winning the title at Melbourne Park.
Kalinina vs Sabalenka prediction: Draw at the 2024 Miami Open
The winner of this match will face either Greet Minnen or Yulia Putintseva. The other seed in this section, Liudmila Samsonova, has already gone out of the draw.
