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Match Details
Fixture: Victoria Azarenka vs (Q)Clervie Ngounoue
Date: March 6, 2025
Tournament: BNP Paribas Open 2025
Round: First Round (Round of 128)
Venue: Indian Wells Tennis Garden, California, United States
Category: WTA 1000
Surface: Hard
Prize Money: $9,693,540
Live Telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Sky Sports | Canada - TSN
Victoria Azarenka vs Clervie Ngounoue preview
Former World No. 1 Victoria Azarenka will take on US qualifier Clervie Ngounoue in the first round of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. Whoever wins, will face eighth seed Zheng Qinwen in the second round of the WTA 1000 event.
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Azarenka has had a disappointing start to the 2025 season, winning only two out of six matches so far. The Belarusian last appeared at the Dubai Tennis Championships, where she faced Anhelina Kalinina in the first round.
Azarenka came back from a set down to beat the Ukrainian 2-6, 7-6(4), 6-4 and set up a second-round clash with Iga Swiatek. Here, the Pole thrashed the Belarusian 6-0, 6-2.
The BNP Paribas Open qualifiers was Ngounoue's first piece of tennis action in 2025. The teenager beat Rebecca Marino 6-4, 7-6(3) to reach the final round, where she was up against Sonay Kartal.
Here, Ngounoue found herself a set and a break down but she bounced back to win 3-6, 7-5, 7-5 win and reach the main draw of a WTA 1000 event for the very first time in her career. It will also be the American's first piece of main-draw action on the WTA Tour since the Citi Open.
Victoria Azarenka vs Clervie Ngounoue head-to-head
The head-to-head between the two currently stands at 0-0 as they have not had any prior encounters so far on the WTA Tour.
Victoria Arenka vs Clervie Ngounoue odds
All odds sourced from BETMGM.
Victoria Azarenka vs Clervie Ngounoue prediction
Azarenka will enter the match as the favorite to win given her experience. The Belarusian's first-serve numbers were not particularly impressive during the Middle-East swing, as she won just 77 out of 128 points (60.2%) on it. The 35-year-old also served 15 double faults and will have to be careful not to produce too many of those, regardless of the opposition.
While Azarenka is a good counterpuncher, she will be eager to fetch a dominant win and will look to be aggressive from the start. She has had a few weeks to reset and should be in a good frame of mind entering the match.
Ngounoue won 70 out of 104 points (67.3%) on her first serve during the Indian Wells qualifiers, producing seven aces while serving ten double faults. The teenager likes to play aggressively all across the court and will have to produce something really special if she is to get the better of Azarenka.
While the Belarusian has had her frailties over the past couple of months, she should be able to get the better of the inexperienced Ngounoue and reach the second round of the BNP Paribas Open.
Pick: Azarenka to win in straight sets.
