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Qualifier Naomi Osaka will be hoping to cause a major upset when she plays tournament favourite Victoria Azarenka in the third round of the Australian Open. Join The Roar for live scores from around 12:30pm (AEDT).
Victoria Azarenka has emerged as one of the strong favourites to win the Australian Open after an excellent start to 2016.
The Belarusian world No.16 began 2016 with a tournament win at the Brisbane International after convincingly defeating world No.6 Angelique Kerber in the final of the WTA Premier competition with a straight sets victory 6-3, 6-1.
During that tournament at Brisbane she also accounted for Samantha Crawford during the semi-finals and 2015 US Open runner-up world No.15 Roberta Vinci in the quarter-finals.
The Australian Open is Azarenka’s most successful tournament having won at Melbourne previously in 2012 and 2013, her only grand slam wins.
Azarenka has only dropped three games throughout her 2016 Australian Open campaign after defeating Alison Van Uytvanck during the first round in straight sets 6-0, 6-0 and Danka Kovinic in the second 6-1, 6-2.
The in-form Azarenka, who has won eight of her last ten matches, is set to power through to the fourth round of the Australian Open and continue her charge to a third title at Melbourne Park.
Naomi Osaka has done extremely well to make her way deep into the third round, in what has been the world No.127’s first time playing in the main draw of a grand slam.
Osaka has played very well so far this year and she is set to be the biggest improver on the WTA Tour rankings when they are released following the conclusion of the Australian Open.
The Japanese 18-year-old went through the qualifying rounds defeating Miyu Kato, Alexandra Panova and Kai-Lin Zhang to earn herself a spot in the main draw and a first round meeting with Donna Vekic.
Osaka defeated Vekic in straight sets 6-3, 6-2 and faced off against world No.21 Ukrainian Elina Svitolina whom she was victorious over 6-4, 6-4.
The qualifier was impressive and has shown she can compete with the big players on tour and having reached the second round at Hobart earlier this year, has received valuable experience as she begins her journey through professional tennis.
Osaka has only lost one of her last ten matches, her Hobart International exit at the hands of Mona Barthel.
Azarenka and Osaka have never played each other on the WTA Tour.
The winner will play either Barbora Strycova or third seed Garbine Muguruza in the fourth round.
Prediction
Osaka’s outstanding run will end with Azarenka to continue her campaign as she heads toward a possible Australian Open final berth.
Azarenka in straight sets.
Join The Roar for live scores from around 12:30pm (AEDT) following the completion of Barbora Strycova and Garbine Muguruza, and drop a comment in the box below if you’re watching the match.
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