World number two Aryna Sabalenka will face the 82nd-ranked Kamilla Rakhimova in the third round of the 2023 French Open on Friday, June 2. Get the predictions and odds of this Aryna Sabalenka v Kamilla Rakhimova match along with its preview, head to head, and tips here.
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Aryna Sabalenka v Kamilla Rakhimova Head to Head
Sabalenka and Rakhimova have never faced off in a competitive match before this.
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Sabalenka Shrugs off Slow Start against Shymanovich
Iryna Shymanovich’s career-best ranking before the start of this year’s French Open was 200th in the world and she was a whopping 15/1 to surprise Sabalenka in this second round encounter. Which is why Sabalenka would have been slightly perplexed at the kind of start she made to the match before eventually winning it.
The world number two, who had demolished Marta Kostyuk in her opener, failed to take advantage of the break of serve she earned in the sixth game as she was broken right back in the seventh.
And the set looked like it was heading into a tie-breaker as Shymanovich served to level things out at 6-6.
It took Sabalenka three break-points before she broke her countrywoman in that 12th game to grab the set and then ran away with the second with an early couple of breaks. An hour and 29 minutes into the match, Sabalenka had won 7-5, 6-2.
Sabalenka now faces the 21-year-old Rakhimova for her maiden entry into the fourth round at this Grand Slam.
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Rakhimova Eases Past Frech
Magdalena Frech was a favourite coming into her second round match against Rakhimova but the Russian 21-year-old toppled her opponents rather easily to make it to the third round for only the second time in her Grand Slam career.
Rakhimova was on court for an hour and 27 minutes for her 6-3, 6-4 win over Frech in which she lost her serve twice. That wasn’t too much of a worry for the Russian though having gotten ahead on the breaking count for starters.
She had grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first set when she lost her serve but broke right back to take a 4-1 lead and eventually win the set. In the second, she served for a 5-1 lead when Frech got the better of her serve once.
That wasn’t enough to stop Rahimova who had earlier defeated Sara Bejlek in her opening round encounter.
All of a sudden, the stakes will be a lot higher in this match – not only will she be playing the world number two but also for a place in the fourth round where she has never been to at a Grand Slam.
Sabalenka v Rakhimova Prediction and Tip
Sabalenka can be expected to win again but not before Rakhimova has given her a bit of a fight. Might even win a set here.
Tips:
- Low Risk Tip: Over 7.5 games in the first set: 4/11
- Moderate Risk Tip: Games Handicap Rakhimova +6.5: 11/10
The 2023 French Open will be played from May 28 to June 11. You can get all the tennis betting news with our tennis betting blog here. Also get rest of the tennis match previews here.
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