Caroline Garcia vs Maria Sakkari Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA Mérida

Prediction published on 22/09/2023, 06:44  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 22/09/2023 at 07:45 in Tennis Predictions

There are only two seeds left in the Guadalajara Open Akron and both are in this semi-final. Second seeded Maria Sakkari takes on third seed Caroline Garcia for a place in the final. Unseeded opposition will be faced in the title decider, either Sofia Kenin or Caroline Dolehide. Maria Sakkari was ranked ninth at the beginning of this tournament and is up to eighth in the live rankings. Reaching the final will see the Greek go up to sixth place. It's also important for her in the Live WTA Race. Sakkari is 13th at present but winning the title can take her to ninth and boost her chances of making the end-of-season Tour Finals. Her form has been inconsistent at times this year but this is her second quarter final in a row. Sakkari has reached the last four without facing a seed but has only lost 17 games in her three straight sets victories. Earlier this year Sakkari beat Garca in three sets on this surface with two tie-breaks in the match. That was her first win over the French player after three previous defeats.

Caroline Garcia is 19th in the Live WTA Race and looking very unlikely to make the WTA Finals. The 29-year-old is back in the top ten after this run to the last four. Winning the title would see her go above Sakkari in the world rankings. Garcia had lost three of her last four matches before beginning this Guadalajara Open Akron. The French player did reach the last eight in San Diego last week but only had to win one match to do so. This is her first semi-final since being the losing finalist in the Monterrey hard court tournament held in March. One set has been dropped on her way to the last four. That was in round two when having to come from behind to get past Aliaksandra Sasnovich. The last eight saw her defeat tenth seeded Viktoria Azarenka in straight sets. This could be a tight match and we go for Sakkari to get the win.