WTA Finals 2022: Jessica Pegula vs. Maria Sakkari Tennis Pick and Prediction

TennisSection previews the 2022 WTA Finals as Jessica Pegula takes on Maria Sakkari in the Round Robin stage on Monday, October 31st, 2022.

The WTA Finals will be played on US soil for the first time since 2005. And for Jessica Pegula, this represents a massive opportunity to fire a signal of intent in her first singles match in the Group Stage. The top-ranked American will take on Greece’s finest in Maria Sakkari – in a repeat of the Guadalajara final just a week ago. Who will prevail?

Jessica Pegula has been outstanding in 2022. All the hard workand perseverance throughout her career has culminated into her best-ever season. She reached the quarterfinal in three of the four Grand Slams and captured her biggest WTA title (first since 2019) in Guadalajara just a week ago. She defeated Maria Sakkari for the crown in Mexico and as fate would have it, they will renew their rivalry in Fort Worth, Texas, at the WTA Finals.

Maria Sakkari, for her part, left it so late to punch her ticket to Fort Worth. The Greek No. 1 won a do-or-die clash against Veronika Kudermetova in Guadalajara to all but seal her place at the WTA Finals. Sakkari will play this event for the second year in a row. Last season she made it out of the group, scoring stunning wins over Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka en route to the semifinals.

Maria Sakkari leads Jessica Pegula 3-2 in their head-to-head. In 2022, Pegula leads 2-1 in their series, winning their AustralianOpen clash in straight sets and most recently in Guadalajara. Being Pegula’s first appearance at the WTA Finals and in front of her home crowd could add a little bit of pressure. But the American’s response this year has been swift and decisive in the wake of pressure. Pegula has played the better the tennis and she should begin her campaign with a bang on Monday night.