Maria Sakkari vs Elise Mertens Prediction & Betting Tips - United Cup

Prediction published on 02/01/2023, 07:41  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 02/01/2023 at 08:41 in Tennis Predictions

Greece continue their United Cup group match against Belgium in Perth. After the first two matches of this match the score is 1-1. Belgium went 1-0 up when Alison van Uytvanck defeated Despina Papamichail in three sets. Greece leveled the scores when Stefanos Tsitsipas beat David Goffin for the loss of only five games. There are three more matches to be played with this match between Sakkari and Mertens followed by a men's singles and then a mixed doubles. Greece won their first match in this group when defeating the other country in this group, Bulgaria, 4-1 with Sakkari winning both her singles and mixed doubles matches without dropping a set. Greece need to win just one of the remaining three mtches to win this group and qualify for a host city final against either Croatia or France. Sakkari is the world number six and ended 2022 in good form with a run to the final in Guadalajara and then the semi-finals of the WTA Tour Finals, losing to Caroline Garcia but had earlier beaten Aryna Sabalenka, Ons Jabeur and Jessica Pegula.

Belgium lost their first match 3-2 to Bulgaria after leading 2-1. Elise Mertens won her singles match against Gergana Topalova but it took her three sets to beat the world number 324. Mertens won the first set, lost the second but then won the deciding set without dropping a game. The Belgian then teamed up with David Goffin but lost the mixed doubles decider in three sets after winning the first. Mertens is the world number 29 but was ranked 21st at the start of 2022. Sakkari leads her 5-4 in previous meetings but the Greek has won four of the last five with Mertens beating her just once since 2014 and that was three years ago. Mertens has to win this match to keep Belgium in the tie but it's Sakkari who looks the likely winner.