Daria Kasatkina vs Varvara Gracheva – First Round – Preview & Prediction | 2023 Australian Open
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THE FACTS
When is Daria Kasatkina vs Varvara Gracheva on and what time does it start? Daria Kasatkina vs Varvara Gracheva will take place on Tuesday 17th January, 2023 – not before 05:15 (UK)
Where is Daria Kasatkina vs Varvara Gracheva taking place? Daria Kasatkina vs Varvara Gracheva will take place at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia
What surface is Daria Kasatkina vs Varvara Gracheva being played on? Daria Kasatkina vs Varvara Gracheva will take place on an outdoor hard court
Where can I get tickets for Daria Kasatkina vs Varvara Gracheva? Visit this link for the latest ticket information for Daria Kasatkina vs Varvara Gracheva
What channel is Daria Kasatkina vs Varvara Gracheva on in the UK? Daria Kasatkina vs Varvara Gracheva will be televised live on Eurosport
Where can I stream Daria Kasatkina vs Varvara Gracheva in the UK? Eurosport subscribers can stream Daria Kasatkina vs Varvara Gracheva live on their website, while Sky Sports subscribers can stream the match live on Sky Go
THE LOWDOWN
World number eight Daria Kasatkina won two WTA titles last season in Granby and San Jose to add her career total of six trophies so far and the former junior Roland-Garros champion made the semi-finals in Paris last season to set her best Grand Slam showing yet. After several years in the wilderness the 25-year-old returned to full tour life in 2021 and she has markedly improved year-on-year to qualify for the year-end WTA Finals last November for the first time. Kasatkina has reached the second week at every Grand Slam bar the Australian Open, with two third round exits here in 2016 and last year.
THE PREDICTION
Daria Kasatkina won just two games in an oddly one-sided Adelaide 2 final with Belinda Bencic on Saturday and, despite wins this week over Barbora Krejcikova and Petra Kvitova, an early exit at Adelaide 1 last week to teenager Linda Noskova suggests the Russian is not firing on all cylinders. The world number eight should have more than enough to beat fellow Russian Varvara Gracheva here in what is their second meeting in Melbourne after she beat Gracheva in straight sets en-route to the Philip Island Trophy title in 2021. World number 98 Gracheva looks a future top 40 player at the least but the 22-year-old has failed to qualify for her first two tournaments in 2023. Back Kasatkina to react well with a straight-sets win.
