Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the WTA 1000 Indian Wells match.
Aryna Sabalenka faces Sonay Kartal in the round of 16 at Indian Wells, with the world No.1 expected to dominate. Kartal has already claimed a major scalp in this tournament, but Sabalenka remains the clear favourite if she approaches the match with focus.
Aryna Sabalenka
The Belarusian came through the opening rounds without major trouble, defeating McCartney Kessler (7:6, 6:3) and Lucia Bronzetti (6:1, 6:2). However, she has struggled at this level since winning the Australian Open, suffering early eliminations from her last two WTA 1000 events, including a surprising loss to Clara Tauson. That inconsistency should serve as a warning to remain fully engaged.
Sonay Kartal
Kartal arrives in the fourth round with growing confidence, having dismantled Beatriz Haddad Maia (6:2, 6:1) in a stunning upset. The Brit also saw off Varvara Lepchenko (7:6, 6:2) and Polina Kudermetova (7:5, 6:3), showing she can handle different styles. However, she has never faced a player of Sabalenka’s level and will need to produce something special to compete.
Aryna Sabalenka vs Sonay Kartal Prediction
Sabalenka’s power and experience should be too much for Kartal, who is unlikely to handle the sustained intensity from the world No.1. If Sabalenka plays at her usual level, this should be a straightforward victory. Expect a dominant performance from the Belarusian.
