It is time for the fans to rest the image of red dirt in their minds. As the grass court season begins, WTA pros have gathered in Berlin to indulge in the action on grass. Maria Sakkari, who couldn’t find luck at Roland Garros, has had time to recuperate and is now set to start her run with a showdown against Victoria Azarenka.

Having dominated her upcoming match rival multiple times, the Belarusian will be looking forward to unleashing her levels once again, this time on grass. As both players are all set to indulge in their fourth showdown on tour, the tussle is going to be competitive. But who stands on the side of glory?

Maria Sakkari vs Victoria Azarenka: Preview

Maria Sakkari is will step on grass after a disappointing defeat in her inaugural match at the French Open by Varvara Gracheva. Sakkari hit 5 aces and 6 double faults against Gracheva, accompanied by a below average. She could only take 67% of points on her first serve after landing only 51%. Sakkari further won 46% of points on the second serve while converting only 4 out of 15 break points. 

Besides the recent setback, Sakkari has had a strong season so far. The WTA pro proved her dominance by making it to the finals at Indian Wells. She holds a remarkable 21-11 win-loss record for the year, with the upcoming showdown to be her first one on grass for this season.

On the other hand, Victoria Azarenka (No. 19) went through a similar result before Berlin. She comes out fresh after a close second-round loss at the French Open against Mirra Andreeva. She didn’t hit any aces and committed 1 double fault. Despite landing 84% of first serves, she only won 46% of points. Furthermore, she took 43% of points on the second serve, converting 9 out of 17 break points. Although she performed poorly, Azarenka won 94 points, as opposed to Andreeva’s 99. 

The Belarusian has had a fine year with a 21-10 win-loss record. Her runs in Brisbane and Miami, where she made it to the semi-finals, are recorded as the best ones this season. The WTA pro holds a career record of 60-27 on grass.

Sakkari vs Azarenka: Head-to-head

Looking at the head-to-head stats of Maria Sakkari and Victoria Azarenka, the two have faced each other thrice in their careers. Azarenka has maintained a lead in their head-to-head encounters so far, winning all three of their matches. Their most recent match took place in the fourth round at the 2024 Italian Open, where Azarenka secured a massive 6-4, 6-1 victory. However, this upcoming match in Berlin is set to mark their first meeting on grass, along with a golden opportunity for both of them to showcase their dominance.

Prediction: Azarenka to win in three sets

Victoria Azarenka has had a notable lead in her matches against Maria Sakkari. As she holds a firm 21-10 record this season, the Belarusian is determined to add another WTA title to the one she last did in 2016. Her consistency has always proved to be effective over her upcoming opponent, making her a fine choice in this matchup.

On the other hand, Maria Sakkari has had her share of ups and downs this season. The fact that she made it to the finals in Berlin last year adds a plus point to her chances in the next showdown. Despite her grip on grass, Azarenka’s lead in their head-to-head statistics and her stable performance this year makes it clear that she has the edge. While Sakkari might pose a strong challenge, Azarenka is the favorite to win, likely to come out on top in three sets.