The outdoor green clay courts at the Charleston Open, part of the WTA 500 series, feature some of the biggest names vying for glory in South Carolina. A spectacular showdown that awaits is the one between Taylor Townsend and Victoria Azarenka in the Round of 16. As the American star takes on the two-time Grand Slam champion on home turf, who will come out on top?

Victoria Azarenka vs Taylor Townsend: Round of 16 preview

Taylor Townsend has had a slow start to her 2024 campaign. With first- and second-round exits in the tournaments leading up to the Sunshine Double, the American finally started gaining some momentum in the qualifiers of the Indian Wells Masters. After making it to the main draw, she beat Magda Linette in the Round of 128, losing to Anna Kalinskaya in the subsequent match. The Miami Open saw a similar trajectory, where she reached the Round of 32.

However, Townsend was defeated by the eventual finalist, Elena Rybakina. At the Charleston Open, she defeated her compatriot Sofia Kenin, 6-3, 6-3, before pulling off an upset against the sixth-seeded Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova in the Round of 32, winning 7-5, 6-2.

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Victoria Azarenka, on the other hand, has had a mixture of results, with her best one being a semifinal clash against Rybakina at the Miami Open. Entering the clay tournament as the 12th seed, the Belarusian star swept aside her Italian opponent, Elisabetta Cocciaretto, in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2, in the Round of 32 match. As they both look to build on their momentum, how have they stacked up against each other in the past?

Azarenka vs Townsend: Head-to-Head

Prediction: Azarenka to prevail in the Round of 16 match

On top of having a former No. 1 ranking, the Belarusian player also has 21 WTA singles titles in her bag. Given her vast experience and solid 138-69 record on clay court surfaces, the 12th seed Azarenka is the favorite to win not just this match but also the championship. Along with a 14-6 record this season, she has a first-serve winning percentage of 68.8. Apart from capitalizing on her service games, the Belarusian will look to build on her return game-winning record of 35.9% as well.

Taylor Townsend’s serve is a weapon. There’s no denying it. Her 71.7% service games won is proof enough. While Azarenka can match Townsend’s hard-hitting from the baseline, her returning prowess could be clutch in breaking the American’s serve. As for Townsend, she has marked several triumphs in the doubles circuit, but she has yet to make any notable impression in the singles category of tournaments.

Who will prevail in this exciting Charleston Open encounter between Victoria Azarenka and Taylor Townsend? Let us know in the comments section.

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