Serena Williams v Maria Sakkari Cincinnati Preview – Serena Williams’ struggles on her return to the tour after the COVID-19 break continued in her first match at the Western & Southern Open in ny. The American barely scraped through against her Dutch opponent Arantxa Rus on Monday, winning 7-6, 3-6, 7-6.
Serena Williams v Maria Sakkari Cincinnati Preview
Williams had a difficult week in Lexington too, having to return back from a set’s deficit in both her wins before losing to Shelby Rogers. And it looks like her shaky form is here to remain if her opening match in ny is anything to travel by.
The third seed was solid on her serve within the first set, clinching it during a close tiebreak, before losing momentum and blowing an early cause drop the second. Serena then looked set to cruise to victory within the deciding set before getting broken back while serving for the match and getting broken again within the next game – giving her opponent the chance to serve for the match.
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However, the 23-time Slam champion showed her famed determination as she broke back then bageled Rus within the tiebreak to book a Round of 16 meeting against Maria Sakkari of Greece.
The 13th-seeded Sakkari overcame a spirited fight from Yulia Putintseva within the second set to win 6-4, 7-6 and found out an exciting clash with Serena within the Round of 16. The second set tiebreak was exceptionally close, with Sakkari edging her Kazakh opponent 11-9 to win the match in straight sets.
Serena Williams v Maria Sakkari Head-to-Head
Serena Williams and Maria Sakkari haven’t met on the WTA tour, but they did bully off at the Hopman Cup in 2018. The 23-time Slam champion won that match 7-6, 6-2, but the Greek would be expected to offer Williams far more trouble this point around.
Looking at Serena’s form since the tour resumed, her Round of 16 clash against the planet No. 21 is probably going to be a troublesome battle. The American great will need to dig deep to tug out another victory and book her place within the quarter-finals, where either Maria Sakkari or Serena Williams are going to be waiting.
Maria Sakkari looks in decent form, and has had a robust year overall thus far . The 25-year-old had her career-best Slam result at this year’s Australian Open, where she lost to Petra Kvitova within the fourth round.
The Greek does possess the sport to upset possibly the best athlete of all time. And given Serena’s form, there might not be an outright favorite during this match.
Serena Williams v Maria Sakkari Cincinnati Prediction
Maria Sakkari to win in three sets.
Watch The Western & Southern Open | Cincinnati 2020 Live
Sources: Sportskeeda
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