Damien Kayat previews Maria Sakkari vs Karolina Muchova and Ons Jabeur vs Donna Vekic in selected round of 16 matches of the Western and Southern Open
2023 WTA Tour
WTA 1000 Series
Western and Southern Open – Cincinnati Open
Lindner Family Tennis Centre- Cincinnati (Outdoor Hardcourt)
Selected Round of 16 matches – 17th August
Maria Sakkari 1/1 | Karolina Muchova 77/100
Isn’t it crazy that 28-year-old Greek Maria Sakkari still only has one title to her name? She really has to develop a stronger killer instinct if she wishes to regularly compete for big titles. Still, the two-time Grand Slam semi-finalist has been a paragon of consistency this season.
She has reached six semi-finals across all three surfaces this year (including a semi-final run at Indian Wells). She broke her streak of five successive semi-final defeats with a run to the recent Citi Open final (where she lost to another perennial underachiever: Coco Gauff).
Nonetheless, it was an impressive start to her North American hardcourt campaign. But that momentum was slightly halted by her controversial Montreal defeat to Danielle Collins. She was verbally abused by the American in a spat that spilled over into the realm of social media.
In any event, Sakkari looked slightly scratchy in her opening match, narrowly avoiding an early exit to Cirstea.
For a while it looked like 26-year-old Czech Karolina Muchova may not live up to her massive potential. An Aussie Open semi-finalist in 2021, Muchova plunged down the rankings after a succession of debilitating injuries. She actually ended the 2022 campaign ranked outside the top 100 in the world.
But the talented Muchova has really fought her way back up the rankings this year. She reached a career-high ranking of 16 after her tremendous run to the final of the French Open (she would lose in three sets to Paris goddess Iga Swiatek).
She was awesome in Paris, notably diffusing the power-hitting of Aryna Sabalenka with a combination of silky variety and powerful groundstrokes. She has also been nudging on the WTA 1000 door this year. She was forced to withdraw from her Dubai quarterfinal due to injury.
And she pushed former Elena Rybakina to three-sets in a sensational Indian Wells quarterfinal. She pushed Swiatek to three sets again last week and she has been grinding brilliantly in Cincinnati, taking down both Haddad Maia and Martic in three-set affairs.
Verdict: Muchova to win in straight sets – 43/20
Muchova actually holds a 3-1 head-to-head advantage over the Greek. This includes back-to-back victories at the last two French Opens. But Sakkari won their only previous hardcourt meeting all the way back in 2016.
These courts should theoretically suit the more ruggedly powerful Sakkari. But she can become a bit one-dimensional and I think this is where Muchova might have the edge.
She has been gone toe-to-toe with the likes of Swiatek and Sabalenka (she clearly knows how to handle awesome power). And I think her court-craft and net-play will set her apart from the Greek.
Ons Jabeur 49/100 | Donna Vekic 16/10
You had to feel for Tunisian Ons Jabeur after that Wimbledon final defeat against Marketa Vondrousova (her 3rd consecutive Grand Slam final defeat). She is arguably the most popular player on the tour and you could just sense the crowd willing her on.
She was left visibly distraught after the defeat and has since admitted that it was the most painful loss of her career. She took some time away from the court and has only returned to action this week. And she was noticeably rusty in her opening victory over Anhelina Kalinina.
She actually trailed 5-1 in the final set before the Ukrainian was plagued by a bad case of serving yips. Jabeur will be grateful for the time on court as she goes about her preparations for this year’s US Open (she lost to Swiatek in last year’s final).
Next up for Jabeur will be the enigma that is Donna Vekic. You just never know what you are going to get from Vekic. She has actually enjoyed one of her best years in some time, jumping back into the top 25 in the world due to her performances.
She reached the quarterfinals of the Aussie Open in a fabulous start to the season. She then won her 4th career title on the hardcourts of Monterrey. She once again harnessed that big serve to good effect with a run to the German Open final on grass.
But she came into this week’s tournament after suffering three consecutive defeats. But as I stated earlier- expect the unexpected with Vekic. She ousted the dangerous Jennifer Brady in her first match and just came back from a set down to eliminate two-time Cincinnati champ Victoria Azarenka.
These speedy surfaces allow her to condense points and play at her tempo. She could be dangerous this week.
Verdict: Vekic to win in three – 5/1
Jabeur has a pretty decent 3-1 head-to-head advantage over the Croatian. But these surfaces are quick and that will work in Vekic’s favour. She hits the ball flat and should get real value in her shots.
She is a confidence player and that comeback win over Azarenka will have given her all the confidence she needs. Also, Jabeur looked really rusty against Kalinina. I just think there’s enough going on here to favour the underdog.
