WTA Madrid Thursday Preview

Victoria Azarenka vs. Arantxa Parra-Santonja

Azarenka faces Parra-Santonja on Thursday from Madrid with a spot in the final eight on the line. Victoria Azarenka and Arantxa Parra-Santonja are scheduled to face one another in the third round of WTA Madrid, with Azarenka a very clear favorite to win the match.

Azarenka, currently ranked 5th in the world, has 2 titles so far this season and that is 2 more than Parra-Santonja, 28 years old, has in her entire career. Azarenka has been playing some of the best tennis of her career in recent events and at WTA Madrid specifically the Belarussian has crushed her competition so far. After posting a double-bagel in the first round against Vera Dushevina, Azarenka defeated Sofia Arvidsson 6-1, 6-1 in the second round. Both matches compiled, Azarenka is a devastating 24-2 at Madrid in terms of games won to games lost. With that kind of form it should take more than Parra-Santonja to stop Azarenka in Madrid, if anyone does stop her at all.

The 2 players do have a recent clay court match in their history as Azarenka opened her Marbella title quest with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Parra-Santonja. Something similar should be expected when the 2 players meet on Thursday as the difference in talent between the 2 is signficant.

Caroline Wozniacki vs. Julia Goerges

Caroline Wozniacki and Julia Goerges are scheduled to meet on Thursday in what looks to be an exciting match from the Premier Mandatory event in Madrid.

Wozniacki, as the world number one, enters their match as a clear favorite, however what cannot be ignored is that Goerges defeated the Dane the last time they met, their only clay court match to date.

They have met in 2 other matches and Wozniacki won both of those, however both were played on the hard court surface in 2010. Their clay court match was played in April with Goerges taking down the Stuttgart championship final 7-6, 6-3.

There is a little bit of pressure on Wozniacki heading into this match as Goerges, despite improved play recently, is still a player ranked outside of the top 25. If Wozniacki loses to her for the second time in as many tournaments, some eyebrows might be raised.