Albert
·
8h
My Prediction
Sakkari in 3 sets.Even without referring to my crystal ball, one can confidently say the upcoming Internazionali d'Italia matchup promises to be a treat to the fans. Maria Sakkari crosses rackets with Magda Linette - a face-off filled with the flavor of past enmity.
Let's delve into some archival nuggets, shall we? Now these two have thrown their gnarly tennis balls at each other twice before, with Sakkari taking a double scoop of victory both times. The Linette lobby may stress that having the 32nd seed belt around their champ's waist should provide an advantage, but personally, I'd wager that the seed placement is as relevant to the match as the color of their socks.
Recent performance charts tell an interesting tale. Linette's graph isn't showing a steady climb, having been disgraced to 'love' by not only Sakkari, but also Paolini. However, she does boast victories against Gauff, Fruhvirtová and Alexandrova, all by straight sets, no less.
On the flip side, Sakkari may not have a seed in the tournament, but she does boast an unyielding spirit. The Greek gladiator shut out Bencic and Chwalińska and also showcased her mettle against Paquet. But, the blot on her copybook is the woeful defeat to Svitolina.
It's like choosing between pizza and pasta in Italy—a difficult choice. But, I'm leaning towards Sakkari, the unseeded wonder. Her past victories over Linette, coupled with her fierce recent form tilt the scale in her favor.
Albert's Prediction: Sakkari in 3 sets.