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THE FACTS
When is Diana Shnaider vs Maria Sakkari on and what time does it start? Diana Shnaider vs Maria Sakkari will take place on Wednesday 18th January, 2023 – not before 00:00 (UK)
Where is Diana Shnaider vs Maria Sakkari taking place? Diana Shnaider vs Maria Sakkari will take place at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia
What surface is Diana Shnaider vs Maria Sakkari being played on? Diana Shnaider vs Maria Sakkari will take place on an outdoor hard court
Where can I get tickets for Diana Shnaider vs Maria Sakkari? Visit this link for the latest ticket information for Diana Shnaider vs Maria Sakkari
What channel is Diana Shnaider vs Maria Sakkari on in the UK? Diana Shnaider vs Maria Sakkari will be televised live on Eurosport
Where can I stream Diana Shnaider vs Maria Sakkari in the UK? Eurosport subscribers can stream Diana Shnaider 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 reached the round of 16 here last season before a creditable exit to Jessica Pegula and she got her 2023 campaign underway well with a straight-sets victory over Yue Yuan. The 27-year-old reached the semi-finals of both Roland-Garros and the US Open in 2021, losing on both occasions to the eventual champions in Barbora Krejcikova and Emma Raducanu. Sakkari won her opening three matches at the United Cup before a shock defeat to Martina Trevisan helped knock Greece out of the semi-finals but she looks to have shaken that off in Melbourne.
THE PREDICTION
This is no gimme for Sakkari against 18-year-old Grand Slam debutante Diana Shnaider, who won her maiden tour-level match on Monday in straight sets against Kristina Kucova. The Russian is another rising star touted for a bug future on the WTA tour and she will be fearless in what could be the biggest match of her career for some time as she enjoys the experience of playing on Margaret Court Arena on Wednesday. Sakkari’s late-season surge in form suggests she has the wherewithal to get through here but three sets would not be a surprise where the battling Greek is concerned. The suitably cautious pick is for Sakkari to win outright.