It is finals day in the Greek capital, and to the delight of many in attendance, local crowd favourite Maria Sakkari will lead the way. But against the quality of Barbora Krejcikova, things will not come easy, as we have a gripping contest to look forward to. As always, we here at LWOT will be predicting the match in detail, but who do you think will come out victorious in Athens this year?
WTA Athens Final Prediction
Maria Sakkari vs Barbora Krejcikova
Head-to-head: Krejcikova 3-0 Sakkari
Although these two players have faced each other three times, their last meeting came over five years ago in a thrilling French Open semifinal, which Barbora Krejcikova won 9-7 in the deciding set. That match ultimately proved to be a critical step in the Czech’s run to the French Open title that year. While those memories may linger in the back of both players’ minds, enough time has passed that they should enter this final with a clean slate.
Both players do their best work from the back of the court, albeit in very different ways. Maria Sakkari will look to counterpunch, use her athleticism, and become the aggressor whenever the opportunity presents itself. Krejcikova, on the other hand, will rely on her variety, spin, and court coverage to frustrate the Greek into making more errors.
In previous big matches, Sakkari has shown a tendency to falter at the final hurdle, but in front of a passionate home crowd, she should do a better job of managing her nerves if this match becomes a close battle. I expect a tight contest given how both players have performed this week. However, on this indoor surface, I think Krejcikova’s baseline variety gives her a slight edge, allowing her to claim the title to the disappointment of the home crowd.
Prediction: Krejcikova in 3
Main Image Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
