It is the Miami Open 2024, and the stage is all set for an emphatic showdown between two of the heavyweights in the tournaments. Coming into the tournament with a rich history, Victoria Azarenka will be looking to add a 4th title in Miami to her name. However, her journey to the top won’t be easy at all. Standing her way in the second round will be the American sensation Peyton Stearns.

With the stage set for the battle of the giants, who amongst the two will come out on top? Will it be the veteran or the young gun? Let’s find out!

Victoria Azarenka vs Peyton Stearns: Preview

Currently ranked 32 in the world, Victoria Azarenka had a good start to the year, winning 10 matches out of 15, all on hard courts. Although she lost her last match in Indian Wells, she’s proven herself in the past, reaching the semifinals in Brisbane earlier this year. Throughout her career, Azarenka has won an impressive 629 matches and lost 249.

She’s particularly strong on hard courts, winning 387 out of 526 matches played on this surface. Azarenka has a history of success at the Miami Open, having won the tournament three times before. Her experience and skill make her a formidable opponent for anyone she faces on the court.

On the other hand, her opponent, Peyton Stearns, ranked 67th, is an emerging player known for her aggressive style of play. Despite a tough start to 2024 with only three wins out of ten matches, all on hard courts, Stearns showed promise in her recent match against Yafan Wang.

She demonstrated her attacking abilities, hitting 32 winners during the match. Stearns also displayed strong serving, recording three aces and no double faults. However, she faces a challenging task in her upcoming match against Azarenka, a seasoned veteran of the sport. Stearns will need to bring her A-game and capitalize on her strengths to compete effectively against her more experienced opponent.

Azarenka vs Stearns: Head-to-head

When it comes to the head-to-head statistics between the two players, the scores are leveled at 0-0 each. Thus, this will be the first-ever meeting between the two stars. Both the players will be equally hungry to grab the win and etch the lead in the head-to-head stats.

Prediction: Victoria Azarenka could clinch the win in 3 sets

In a tough encounter, Victoria Azarenka could come out on top and clinch a crucial win. While Stearns might be having the home support under her belt, Azarenka could prove to be a hard nut to crack. Also, her impressive start to the season pretty much makes it clear that she could be on her way to the third round of the tournament.

If Stearns wants to stand a chance, she would have to bring something out of the box against her opponent. However, it is only time that will reveal who among the two makes their way into the next round. What are your thoughts on this? Will the veteran stand out or will the young player shine? Do let us know in the comments below!

Also read: EXCLUSIVE: Victoria Azarenka Hailed as Trailblazer for Undeniable Impact on Aryna Sabalenka’s Generation of Players