Yue Yuan vs Maria Sakkari – First Round – Preview & Prediction | 2023 Australian Open
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THE FACTS
When is Yue Yuan vs Maria Sakkari on and what time does it start? Yue Yuan vs Maria Sakkari will take place on Monday 16th January, 2023 – not before 01:15 (UK)
Where is Yue Yuan vs Maria Sakkari taking place? Yue Yuan vs Maria Sakkari will take place at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia
What surface is Yue Yuan vs Maria Sakkari being played on? Yue Yuan vs Maria Sakkari will take place on an outdoor hard court
Where can I get tickets for Yue Yuan vs Maria Sakkari? Visit this link for the latest ticket information for Yue Yuan vs Maria Sakkari
What channel is Yue Yuan vs Maria Sakkari on in the UK? Yue Yuan vs Maria Sakkari will be televised live on Eurosport
Where can I stream Yue Yuan vs Maria Sakkari in the UK? Eurosport subscribers can stream Yue Yuan vs Maria Sakkari live on their website, while Sky Sports subscribers can stream the match live on Sky Go
THE LOWDOWN
World number six Maria Sakkari finished runner-up at two Masters events last season to Iga Swiatek at Indian Wells and Jessica Pegula in Guadalajara in a largely frustrating year. The 27-year-old ended well with that Guadalajara run followed by a semi-final exit at the WTA Finals but after a great start to 2023 at the United Cup she suffered a shock defeat to Martina Trevisan in the semi-finals. That loss representing Greece will hurt Sakkari more than most and it remains to be seen how she reacts in Melbourne. Sakkari reached the semi-finals of Roland-Garros and the US Open in 2021 but her best showing here are round of 16 exits in 2020 and last season.
THE PREDICTION
World number 119 Yue Yuan enjoyed some strong form late last season on the ITF circuit to set a career-high of 74th in November. The 24-year-old reached the third round of the US Open on her New York debut last season with a great upset victory over Irina-Camelia Begu but Sakkari should be too steep a climb in this first meeting between the two. It is hard to back Sakkari in the later rounds of big tournaments as she continues to struggle with some sort of mental block but she does tend to reach those stages on a consistent basis. The Greek should come through in straight sets here.
