The start of 2019 could not have been more contrasting between the giant-killing #MariaSakkari and the struggling #JelenaOstapenko. Sakkari, who has been flying under the radar for quite a moment before her breakthrough recently, has the golden opportunity to cause the “upset” in the first round of the #AustralianOpen, although it would not really be considered an upset as Ostapenko, the 23rd seed, comes into the encounter as the slight underdog.
It is a cruel draw for both players — either Sakkari falls to yet another first-round defeat, or Ostapenko’s poor stretch of results will continue to haunt her. This win will be extraordinarily important for the Latvian, whose last top-30 win came all the way back in June 2018.
Sakkari’s recent form
Sakkari opted to start the year at the Hopman Cup for the first time in her career, alongside male compatriot Stefanos Tsitsipas. The Greek claimed excellent wins over Katie Boulter and Belinda Bencic before providing a tough challenge against the legendary 23-time Major champion Serena Williams in the Round Robin.
Despite her encouraging run in Perth, Sakkari is on a surprising six-match losing streak in WTA matches, dating all the way back to the Korea Open last year. Her most disappointing loss probably came against qualifier Magda Linette last week, where she fell in the opening round of the Hobart International despite being tipped to lift her maiden WTA trophy.
Ostapenko’s recent form
Ostapenko had lost six of her past seven matches — with one of those losses coming against world number 317 Kristina Kucova at the Hong Kong Tennis Open. The Latvian found herself at a career-high ranking of five in March 2018, but she is currently ranked 22nd in the world. She owned a disappointing 25-22 win-loss record after a stellar breakthrough 2017 which saw her claim her maiden Major trophy.
She started 2019 in the worst possible way — being thrashed 0-6, 2-6 by qualifier Monica Niculescu in the first round of the Shenzhen Open. Ostapenko’s woes continued when she was handed an extremely tough draw at the Apia International Sydney, where she was defeated by eventual finalist Ashleigh Barty in the opening hurdle. Ostapenko only managed to claim a total of eight games despite conceding 24 games in 2019.
Match Analysis
Sakkari comes into the match as the slight favourite despite both players looking for their first tour-level main draw win since the start of the Asian swing last year. However, Ostapenko is the one who seems to be struggling more with her game. The Latvian’s game is filled with errors and looks to be in a mess currently — unable to string together a proper serve which used to be so destructive. Her forehand is all over the place while Sakkari performed well in Perth, showcasing her abilities once more.
Ostapenko’s rhythm is all over the place, and even though Sakkari seems to be struggling for form now, the Greek should be able to claim a straightforward victory over the error-strewn Ostapenko. Sakkari’s big serve will be a crucial factor in the outcome of the encounter.
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