Indian Wells 2024: Emma Navarro vs Maria Sakkari Preview; Head-to-Head, and Prediction

Mar 14, 2024 | 4:01 AM EDT

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The tennis community is buzzing as they will be treated to a blockbuster encounter between two top-seeded players at the ongoing Indian Wells Masters. On her home turf, the young American tennis sensation Emma Navarro will lock horns with the 9th-seeded Greek player, Maria Sakkari, in a high-profile quarterfinal match.

Ever since its inaugural edition, the WTA 1000 tournament has featured some high-octane matchups on the outdoor hard courts at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. One such exciting game will now also be witnessed in the ongoing edition, where the likes of Navarro and Sakkari will compete for a place in the semifinals at ‘Tennis Paradise.’

Emma Navarro vs Maria Sakkari: Indian Wells Open quarterfinals preview

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After a semifinal finish at the San Diego Open, Emma Navarro is coming to her home tournament as the 23rd-seeded participant. In the initial rounds, the American player swept aside the likes of Lesia Tsurenko and Elina Svitolina to reach the round of 16. Navarro has now pulled off an upset against the second seed and 2-time Grand Slam champion, Aryna Sabalenka, in a three-set thriller, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2.

Maria Sakkari, on the other hand, is coming to the Indian Wells Open after a second-round defeat at the Dubai Tennis Championship. Now, as the ninth-seeded participant, the Greek tennis star overcame the likes of Caroline Garcia and Diana Shnaider in her first two games. Sakkari then defeated her French opponent, Diane Parry, in a three-set game, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.

Navarro vs Sakkari: Head-to-Head

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The quarterfinal match between Emma Navarro and Maria Sakkari at the BNP Paribas Open will mark their third meeting on the tour, while their H2H record is currently locked at 1-1. In their recent meeting at the Dubai Duty-Free Championships, the Greek player defeated Navarro with a score of 6-2, 6-4. But in their first meeting at the 2023 San Diego Open, it was the American sensation who overcame Sakkari in a three-set game.

Prediction: Navarro to emerge victorious in the quarterfinals of the BNP Paribas Open

This season, the American player has experienced a breakthrough as she won her first singles title while also attaining the number 23 ranking on the WTA circuit. Navarro has pulled off some stellar performances at different tournaments, including her triumphant run at the Hobart International and a semifinal finish at the San Diego Open.

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As she is in brilliant form this season, the 22-year-old will be the favorite to win this match against her Greek opponent, who has faced some initial round defeats in prior events. Who do you think will prevail in this exciting BNP Paribas Open quarterfinal between Navarro and Sakkari? Let us know in the comments section.