We are just on the third day of the 2024 French Open and the tournament has already seen a host of upsets taking place. From Maria Sakkari to last year’s semifinalist, Beatriz Haddad Maia, there have been shocking results over the past few days as some big names are already out of the tournament. However, Victoria Azarenka, the 19th seed, will look to defy this narrative as she opens her French Open campaign later today.

The Belarusian tennis veteran will take on Nadia Podoroska of Argentina in the opening-round clash in Paris. With the unpredictability factor spreading across the ATP and the WTA Tour, fueled further by the rainy weather conditions, fans are in for a treat as they can expect some surprising moments.

Victoria Azarenka vs Nadia Podoroska: Preview

More decorated of the two, Azarenka enters the French Open on the back of some consistent displays earlier this season. Although she has yet to win a title in 2024, Azarenka has often dug deep in the tournaments that she has played. In the first major tournament of the season, the Australian Open, she reached the fourth round. Further, her best result this year came at the Miami Open where she reached the semifinals. As has been the case this year, Azarenka will look to aim for a good finish at Roland Garros.

Meanwhile, Azarenka’s first-round opponent, Nadia Podoroska has struggled this year on the tour. Although she has played in most of the big tournaments, early defeats have been a constant feature in her results. Moreover, she is yet to reach the quarterfinal stage of the tournaments in 2024. Thus, Podoroska will be looking for redemption when she faces Azarenka later today.

Azarenka vs. Podoroska: Head-to-Head

The two have featured consistently on the WTA Tour for many years and were bound to come up against each other on multiple occasions. In the two matches played between them, Azarenka has won both comfortably in straight sets. However, the duo has yet to play a match on the clay court against each other and Podoroska could use this fact to cause an upset against the Belarusian star.

Prediction: Azarenka to continue her domination over Podoroska

With Azarenka in decent form and Podoroska struggling this year, it will be a huge mountain to climb for the Argentine star if she is to upset Azarenka. The former World Number 1, Azarenka, is predicted to continue her winning streak against Podoroska and enter the next round of the French Open with a comfortable straight-set victory. Their match will take place on Court Simonne-Mathieu later today.