The inaugural United Cup is back for day six as teams look to clinch their spots in the knockout round. This event has brought us high-quality matches all week long. As always, we here at LWOT are offering our predictions for every match on day six, including Maria Sakkari vs Elise Mertens and Stan Wawrinka vs Hubert Hurkacz. But who will secure their team a vital win?
United Cup Day 6 Predictions
France vs Croatia
Caroline Garcia vs Petra Martic
Head-to-head: Garcia 4-1 Martic
Caroline Garcia is coming off her most successful season, that culminated in her raising the trophy at the WTA Finals in Dallas. The veteran Frenchwoman won her other United Cup match earlier this week against Nadia Podoroska and has won 25 of her last 31 matches dating back to last July. Her opponent, Petra Martic, has not been in anything that sort of form, although in her defence few have. Still, it was perhaps telling that Martic struggled to get past Podoroska earlier in the United Cup. Garcia lost just two games against the Argentine.
Prediction: Garcia in 2
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Adrian Mannarino vs Borna Gojo
Head-to-head: first meeting
Adrian Mannarino and Borna Gojo are set to meet for the first time on the final day of group-stage action at the United Cup. Both players won their only singles match this week, taking down Argentine Federico Coria. That said, the veteran Frenchman looked much more comfortable in the victory. He has a massive advantage over Gojo in this match. Gojo, currently 144th in the world rankings, has spent most of his young career on the Challenger Tour. He does not have the weapons to trouble Mannarino. Expect the Frenchman to win in straight sets in this match.
Prediction: Mannarino in 2
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Norway vs Italy
Ulrikke Eikeri vs Lucia Bronzetti
Head-to-head: first meeting
Ulrikke Eikeri of Norway is currently the world #388. The 30-year-old has never beaten a top-100 player in her career. It is hard to see her bucking that trend against world #54 Lucia Bronzetti. The 24-year-old Italian looked strong in her victory over Laura Pigossi earlier this week and may well be poised for a breakout season in 2023 as she transitions her full-time effort to tour-level events. The Italian should roll in this match.
Prediction: Bronzetti in 2
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Casper Ruud vs Matteo Berrettini
Head-to-head: Ruud 4-2 Berrettini
Casper Ruud and Matteo Berrettini are set to square off in one of the more widely anticipated matches of the United Cup. Ruud is looking to build off a season that saw him reach two Grand Slam finals. Berrettini is looking to round back into form after missing a chunk of 2022 with a wrist injury. Ruud holds a 4-2 head-to-head advantage, though they have split their only two hard-court meetings. Both Ruud and Berrettini won their first United Cup match over Thiago Monteiro. That said, the Norwegian completed that victory in a much easier style. Expect Ruud’s consistency to bother Berrettini and ultimately be decisive in a match that otherwise looks very competitive.
Prediction: Ruud in 3
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