WTA Rome Day 4 Predictions Including Maria Sakkari vs Varvara Gracheva

Caroline Garcia vs Elisabetta Cocciaretto

Head-to-head: Garcia 4-1 Cocciaretto

Garcia won a thrilling match between these two just a few weeks ago in Rouen. She trailed 5-3 in the deciding set but rallied to prevail 6-1 3-6 7-5. As is often the case, the outcome of this match is on Garcia’s racket. The 2022 WTA Finals champion possesses the greater firepower, but she has struggled with how many balls Cocciaretto retrieves in their last two matches, with the Italian winning their meeting in Warsaw last year. Overall, Garcia is backed to find enough big shots to triumph, but anything is possible in this one.
Prediction: Garcia in 3

Dayana Yastremska vs Laura Siegemund

Head-to-head: Yastremska 2-0 Siegemund

Yastremska has struggled since her run to the Australian Open semifinal in January. This has the potential to be a tricky first-round for her. Siegemund makes her opponents play a lot of balls and defeated Beatriz Haddad Maia on clay last month, before almost doing the same against Marta Kostyuk in Stuttgart. Nonetheless, Yastremska is still the favourite to progress. The Ukrainian thrives most when she has time on her shots. Siegemund will give her that, which is likely to be the decisive factor in this matchup.
Prediction: Yastremska in 2

Maria Sakkari vs Varvara Gracheva

Head-to-head: Sakkari 1-0 Gracheva

Sakkari had a setback in Madrid against Beatriz Haddad Maia, who the Greek has a poor record against. However, the 2022 French Open semfinalist will still be happy with how her relationship with new coach David Witt is progressing, with Sakkari looking more confident on the court. She should make a positive start against Gracheva. The 23-year-old comfortably defeated wildcard Federica Di Sarra in the last round, but her overall season has been underwhelming so far. Sakkari’s greater firepower is likely to overwhelm Gracheva in Rome.
Prediction: Sakkari in 2