WTA Italian Open 2021: Maria Sakkari vs Coco Gauff–Preview, Head to Head and Prediction


WTA Italian Open 2021: Maria Sakkari vs Coco Gauff–Preview, Head to Head and Prediction

Maria Sakkari and Coco Gauff

Maria Sakkari will take on Coco Gauff in the Second round of the Italian Open 2021. Sakkari is currently the World no.19 on the WTA rankings and Gauff is the World no.35.  

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Match Details

  • Tournament: WTA Italian Open
  • Match: Maria Sakkari vs Coco Gauff
  • Round: Second Round
  • Date: 12th May, 2021
  • Prize Money: €10,726
  • Venue: Rome, Italy
  • Surface: Clay Court

Maria Sakkari vs Coco Gauff: Match Preview

Maria Sakkari
Maria Sakkari

Maria Sakkari has had a tough introduction to life on clay courts this season. In her first tournament on the red dirt, she lost in the round of sixteen to Petra Kvitova. At Madrid, she lost to Karolína Muchová in the round of sixteen. At Rome, she had to overcome a tough opponent Polona Hercog, in three sets, she won 7-6 3-6 6-2, in the first round.

In the second she will face the seventeen year old American Coco Gauff. Gauff started her clay court leg of the year on the green clay of Charleston. She did well too, reaching the Quarter-final of the event. At that stage she was beaten by Ons Jabeur. In the last tournament that she played, Gauff lost in the first round to Karolina Pliskova. At Rome, she has beaten Yulia Putintseva in the first round, in three sets 7-5 4-6 6-4. 

Maria Sakkari vs Coco Gauff: Head-to-Head

Coco Gauff
Coco Gauff

These two players have met each other twice on tour before, and Sakkari has won both those encounters, so Sakkari leads the head to head 2-0. Their last encounter was in Abu Dhabi which Sakkari won in straight sets, 7-5 6-2. 

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Maria Sakkari vs Coco Gauff: Prediction

Maria Sakkari
Maria Sakkari

Both players have similar playing styles. Both are aggressive players and can keep running. Both have played tough three set matches in their first round, so the faster recovery will be key. Sakkri must serve better than what she did in her first round, if she wants to overcome the American.  

Match Prediction: Maria Sakkari will beat Coco Gauff in three sets. 

Also Read: WTA Italian Open 2021: Elina Svitolina vs Amanda Anisimova–Preview, Head to Head and Prediction