Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the WTA Madrid match.
Anna Blinkova faces a daunting challenge in the second round, coming up against the toughest possible opponent — world number one Aryna Sabalenka.
Aryna Sabalenka
Aryna Sabalenka is not unbeatable, but defeats are a rarity. She has registered 25 wins and just five losses this season, collecting titles in Brisbane and Miami, and finishing as runner-up at three other tournaments, including the Australian Open. Only players of the highest calibre have managed to overcome her — most recently world No. 24 Elena Ostapenko, who defeated the Belarusian in the Stuttgart clay final earlier this week (6:4, 6:1).
Anna Blinkova
In contrast, Anna Blinkova, currently ranked 76th, has had a more modest season. Her 2024 record stands at 10 wins and 10 losses. Her best results have been quarter-final appearances at the WTA 500 event in Linz and the WTA 250 tournament in Austin. The highest-ranked player she has beaten this year is world No. 13 Diana Schneider, whom she edged (6:4, 7:6). Clay has been a particular struggle for her, with just two wins and eight losses on the surface so far this year.
Aryna Sabalenka vs Anna Blinkova Prediction
Aryna Sabalenka, by comparison, has recorded 15 wins and only four defeats on clay in 2024. The two players have met three times, and Sabalenka has emerged victorious on each occasion. While Anna Blinkova managed to take a set in their 2017 and 2020 encounters, their most recent meeting in 2023 was one-sided (6:2, 6:3). There is little to suggest this match will unfold any differently.
