Madrid 2023: Maria Sakkari vs. Paula Badosa Prediction & Pick

TennisSection previews the 2023 Madrid Open fourth-round match featuring Maria Sakkari vs. Paula Badosa on Monday, May 1, 2023.

Maria Sakkari vs. Paula Badosa Preview

Greek No. 1 Maria Sakkari will take on home favorite Paula Badosa in an intriguing fourth-round clash. Who will prevail and reach the quarterfinal at the Madrid Open?

Maria Sakkari survived some late-night drama, beating in-form Spaniard Rebeka Masarove in three sets. Sakkari dropped the first set and was in danger of becoming Masarova’s first top-10 victim. But she saved an astonishing 17 of 20 break points in the match to come away with the win.

Paula Badosa, meanwhile, demolished sixth seed Coco Gauff 6-3, 6-0 to reach the fourth round at the Madrid Open for the second time. The 25-year-old is the home favorite and with the best chance of becoming the first Spaniard to win this tournament. Can she reach another quarterfinal?

Maria Sakkari vs. Paula Badosa Prediction and Pick

Maria Sakkari and Paula Badosa are tied at 1-1 in their head-to-head, with Sakkari ending the Spaniard’s title defense in Indian Wells last year. This will be their first meeting on clay and Badosa seems to have a huge upswing in her game right now. She’ll also have a huge partisan crowd cheering her raucously. Expect a chaotic afternoon for the Greek No. 1.