Albert
·
1d
My Prediction
Keys in 3 sets.No need to stock up on popcorn for this one as this matchup promises all the drama of a damp cracker. Second seed Madison Keys boasts a recent series of victories with some impressive shutdowns to plunk proudly on her mantle. Zakharova, on the other hand, a rose without a seed in a thorny field, brings a less dazzling streak to the court. While Zakharova may give love a fight for its $8, it's hard to overlook Keys' hardened track record.
Although, admittedly, Keys seemingly faltered against Gauff with a 2-1 defeat, perhaps she was just keeping an element of surprise up her tennis skirt? Unknown strategies do lurk out there on the court, like a hyena in the stealth of the night. Think less “courting disaster” and more “coquette playing hard to get.”
With Zakharova, the picture is a tad fuzzier than a tennis ball losing its stitches. Sure, she sent Vekić and Zhao packing with her hefty backhand, but two losses in May suggest she stumbles when the going gets gritty. A point of possible contention to keep any fruitless optimist on the edge of their seat.
Take it with a grain of salt, but the smart money might keep company with Keys, much like a devoted Labrador to its unsuspecting owner. Expect Zakharova to make a fighting stand, like a single crab in a bucket of lobsters. However, it's a tough call to see her solving the Keys' riddle and quite a stretch for a straight-set win.
Albert’s Prediction: Keys in 3 sets.