Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports/Sipa USA
Victoria Azarenka vs Danielle Collins: WTA Rome – quarterfinal
Two veteran players will face each other in the quarterfinals of the WTA Rome.
Victoria Azarenka Profile
The former world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka is currently 24th in the WTA rankings. The player from Belarus is 20-8 for the season and 6-2 on clay.
The 34-year-old is coming off a 6-4, 6-1 win over Maria Sakkari in the round of 16 in Rome. Previously, in the tournament, she defeated Mayar Sherif and Magda Linette.
Azarenka made it to two semifinals this season. In Brisbane, she lost to Aryna Sabalenka, and in Miami, to Elena Rybakina.
Azarenka made her debut in Rome in 2006, and her best result was the final in 2013, when she lost to Serena Williams.
Danielle Collins Profile
Danielle Collins is 15th in the WTA rankings, while her career high was No. 7 in the world. The American is 31-9 for the season and 11-1 on clay.
The 30-year-old is coming off a 6-0, 6-3 win over Irina Begu in the round of 16 match. Previously, she defeated Caroline Garcia and Anna Blinkova.
Collins won two titles this year, defeating Darya Kasatkina in the final in Charelston and Elena Rybakina in the final in Miami.
This is her fourth appearance in Rome, and this is her best result.
Head-to-Head Collins leads 2-1
- Collins vs Azarenka 6-1, 7-5 (2020 Credit Bank One Invitational)
- Azarenka vs Collins 6-1, 6-2 (2019 WTA Acapulco, first round)
- Collins vs Azarenka 6-7, 3-0, ret. (2018 WTA San Jose, quarterfinal)
Prediction and Conclusion
Both players are having an excellent week in Rome, making it to the quarterfinals without dropping a set. Collins has been one of the best players this season, already winning two titles. Unlike Azarenka, Collins has reached her peak later in her career, while the Belarussian was on top of the women’s tennis world earlier when she won two Grand Slams. This is a huge match for both of them, and it will definitely be an interesting match. Azarenka has had a way better career, but Collins is the better player at the moment. The American can stay longer in the points, and that will make the difference in this match and will see her through to the semifinals.
