Jelena Ostapenko vs. Victoria Azarenka

Ostapenko won the 2017 Roland Garros singles title by blasting big ground strokes with seemingly no fear or nerves.  She followed that up with a solid Wimbledon but the typical post-slam swoon has set in for Jelena.  Still, she is young enough and talented enough to be a big part of the WTA’s next 5-10 years.  Vika is a two-time Australian Open winner, a two-time US Open runner-up, and former world #1.

.@Vika7 looking focused and fired up as she practices ahead of her first round match tomorrow.

She will face 21-year-old Jeļena Ostapenko.#PracticePass #RG19 pic.twitter.com/onJ0pYSDg7

— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) May 27, 2019

Vika has never played her best tennis on clay, a surface that should suit her athleticism.  I don’t think Vika moves as well as she would like on the dirt.  Ostapenko is at home on the dirt, but she probably does not as of yet have Vika’s mental fortitude.  I think Ostapenko will stay in the wilderness so to speak for another 6-12 months before her game re-stabilizes.

This match could obviously go either way, but I think if the surface is the deciding factor Ostapenko wins.  If nerve, motivation, and experience are the deciding factors, Vika wins.  To get a match between two major winners at this stage is a nice treat.

.@Vika7 looking focused and fired up as she practices ahead of her first round match tomorrow.

She will face 21-year-old Jeļena Ostapenko.#PracticePass #RG19 pic.twitter.com/onJ0pYSDg7

— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) May 27, 2019