A blockbuster clash opens proceedings on Saturday when Maria Sakkari takes on Paula Badosa from the Chichén Itzá group. Sakkari and Badosa each made commanding starts to their WTA Finals campaigns in Guadalajara with straight-sets victories. This promises to be an exciting clash between two of the most in form players on tour, a first-time meeting between the pair makes this match an even more exciting prospect. Who will have the edge?
WTA Finals Day 4 Predictions
Maria Sakkari vs Paula Badosa
Head-to-head: first meeting
Sakkari made her a strong start in Guadalajara with a 6-2 6-4 win over Iga Swiatek. The Greek player dropped just a single point behind her first serve in her win over the Pole, a dominant performance that left her opponent in tears after the match. Sakkari is having a fantastic season, highlighted by a pair of Grand Slam semi-final appearances at Roland Garros and the US Open, the 26-year-old’s season may look even better by the end of this tournament if she continues to play at such a high level.
Badosa is one of the form players on tour. The Spaniard is in the form of her life as she has now won seven consecutive matches having arrived in Guadalajara fresh from winning the biggest title of her career in Indian Wells last month. The 23-year-old breezed to the finish line in her WTA Finals debut, winning ten consecutive games from 2-4 down in the opening set to defeat the top seeded Aryna Sabalenka 6-4 6-0. Badosa is going to be tough to stop this week.
Side with the Spaniard here in what should be a fiercely contested contest. There’s very little to separate the pair, each looked extremely solid in their opening match of the tournament. Ultimately, Sakkari’s game is slightly more likely to crack in a tight contest, there is no escaping the fact that she is the more error prone of the two. Badosa is very assured in her game at the moment, playing with the perfect mix of attack and defence, another disciplined performance from the Spaniard will likely see her edge past Sakkari.
Prediction: Badosa in 3
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