Two-time Australian Open champions Aryna Sabalenka and Victoria Azarenka are set for a highly anticipated quarterfinal clash at the WTA Washington Open. The Belarusian duo, the only remaining seeds in the last eight, will meet on Friday after both advanced through their respective matches on Thursday.
Azarenka, celebrating her 35th birthday the previous day, overcame a tough challenge from China’s Wang Yafan, winning 6-1, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3 in a grueling two hours and 46 minutes. While acknowledging the significance of the upcoming match against Sabalenka, Azarenka emphasized her focus on her own game and preparation for the US Open.
Sabalenka, the 2023 and 2024 Australian Open winner, holds a 4-1 advantage in their head-to-head rivalry, having won their most recent encounter in a Brisbane semifinal in January. Despite the head-to-head record, both players recognize the intensity and quality of their matches.
“I had a lot of great matches against Victoria. It’s always great matches against her,” Sabalenka said. “I’m really looking forward to facing her again.”
Their first meeting came in the opening round of the 2019 US Open, with Sabalenka emerging victorious. Azarenka, however, secured a rematch win in the second round of the 2020 US Open. Sabalenka also won their 2020 Ostrava final and a 2021 Montreal quarterfinal.
Both Sabalenka and Azarenka withdrew from Wimbledon with shoulder injuries, but have been able to compete without pain in Washington. While both players are aiming to regain peak form ahead of the US Open, Azarenka found confidence in her performance this week, having played almost three hours in back-to-back matches with her shoulder feeling good.
On the men’s side, top seed Andrey Rublev advanced to the quarterfinals with a 7-6 (7/4), 6-4 victory over French 16th seed Arthur Rinderknech. The Russian, who landed 19 aces in the match, will next face American fifth seed Frances Tiafoe. Tiafoe outlasted fellow American Aleksandar Kovacevic 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 6-3 to set up the quarterfinal clash.
The other men’s quarterfinal matchups will see US second seed Ben Shelton face Canadian wildcard Denis Shapovalov, who defeated Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.
