Aryna Sabalenka vs Anastasia Potapova Preview & Tips - Sabalenka to easily eliminate Potapova from the Australian Open

Ben Darvill

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Last updated: 22 Jan 2026

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Ben Darvill 22 Jan 2026

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Aryna Sabalenka has won both of her completed matches against her opponent
Sabalenka has not dropped a set in seven matches in 2026
Preview, stats & head to head

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Aryna Sabalenka (Getty Images)

Aryna Sabalenka vs Anastasia Potapova Preview & Tips
Head To Head
Aryna Sabalenka Form
Anastasia Potapova Form

Aryna Sabalenka vs Anastasia Potapova Preview & Tips

Aryna Sabalenka was excellent in her second round clash with Zhuoxuan Bai as she secured a simple 6-3 6-1 win.

Anastasia Potapova eased to a 7-6 6-2 win over Emma Raducanu in the second round as she set up her clash with Sabalenka in style.

Head To Head

The pair have met twice before, with Sabalenka winning both matches in Stuttgart in 2023 and Rome in 2025. Sabalenka also benefitted from a walkover at Stuttgart last year.

Aryna Sabalenka Form

Aryna Sabalenka has been outstanding in 2026, romping to seven consecutive wins in straight sets, ensuring she has started the new tennis year in perfect form.

At the Australia Open, Sabalenka has won 32 of her 39 matches played, making the final in the last three completed tournaments. Wins in 2023 and 2024 almost culminated in victory in 2025, only for Sabalenka to fall in a shock 6-3 2-6 7-5 loss to Madison Keys.

Now, Sabalenka will be eyeing up a third win in four Australian Open campaigns. While Potapova has impressed at the tournament so far, she has failed to ever get close to Sabalenka on the court. Indeed, Sabalenka has not dropped more than four total games in each of her two matches against her opponent.

Anastasia Potapova Form

Anastasia Potapova continues to build on the tennis court, winning her opening two at the Australian Open in a run that has seen her set up a clash with Sabalenka in the third round.

Her 7-6 6-2 win over Emma Raducanu saw Potapova triumph in challenging conditions, and it has helped turn her record in 2026 to a positive four wins in seven outings.

The big worry for Potapova will be that her record against Sabalenka and at the Australian Open is poor. Her best ever run saw her eliminated in the third round of the competition back in 2021. Meanwhile, she has lost her two completed meetings with Sabalenka with an aggregate score of 24-7. I am backing Potapova to slip to a comfortable loss in this one.

Verdict

Aryna Sabalenka v Anastasia Potapova

I am backing Sabalenka to notch a 2-0 win as less than 8.5 games are played in the first set.

Sabalenka 2-0

Set Betting

@-454.55 - 1 Unit

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Under 8.5

1st Set Total Games

@-111.11 - 1 Unit

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Join Shuffle.us using the referral code MADMAX and claim 25,000 Gold Coins + 1 Shuffle Cash to use at this leading crypto operator. No purchase is necessary to play. Promotions are void where prohibited by law. Shuffle.us is a play-for-fun website intended for amusement purposes only. Shuffle.us does not offer “real-money gambling.” Shuffle.us is a Social Gaming Platform and is only open to Eligible Participants, who are at least eighteen (18) years old or the age of majority in their jurisdiction (whichever occurs later) at the time of entry. Shuffle.us is committed to responsible social play, for more information visit gamingaddictsanonymous.org. Please read their Privacy Policy for more information. 21+.

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