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Match details
Fixture: (LL) Varvara Gracheva vs (WC) Caroline Wozniacki
Date: August 15, 2023
Tournament: Western & Southern Open 2023
Round: First round (Round of 64)
Venue: Cincinnati, US
Category: WTA 1000
Surface: Hard
Prize money: $2,788,468
Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | Canada - TSN | UK - Amazon Prime Video
Varvara Gracheva vs Caroline Wozniacki preview
Varvara Gracheva and Caroline Wozniacki have been drawn to face each other in an exciting first-round showdown at the 2023 Western & Southern Open.
Gracheva's current ranking didn't make her eligible for a direct main draw entry here. She was seeded second in the qualifiers and won her first match against Anna Danilina in three sets.
Gracheva then faced Cristina Bucsa for a spot in the main draw, but lost to her in straight sets. However, she got a second lease of life as a lucky loser following Elina Svitolina's withdrawal due to a foot injury.
Meanwhile, after spending more than three years away from the sport, Wozniacki came out of retirement at the Canadian Open. Her first match was against Kimberly Birrell, which she won in straight sets. The Dane gave a good account of herself in her next match against Marketa Vondrousova, but went down in straight sets.
Varvara Gracheva vs Caroline Wozniacki head-to-head
This will be the first meeting between them, so the head-to-head stands at 0-0 for now.
Varvara Gracheva vs Caroline Wozniacki odds
(Odds are sourced from BetMGM)
Varvara Gracheva vs Caroline Wozniacki prediction
Wozniacki looked in pretty decent shape in the couple of matches she played at the Canadian Open last week. Her backhand is still quite sharp and while she's able to chase down plenty of balls, she looked a bit winded after doing the same. The Dane still needs some more time before getting used to the grind of the tour.
Gracheva's recent results haven't been that good. While she performed quite well on hardcourts at the start of the season, she hasn't been able to replicate her form from the start of the season. She failed to get past the qualifying rounds in Washington and lost in the first round in Montreal.
Even now, Gracheva only made it to the main draw as a lucky loser. Wozniacki was initially, due to face Svitolina, but with her old nemesis out of her way, the Dane will be itching to score another win.
Wozniacki's rally tolerance is quite decent after being away from the tour for years. She can wear down Gracheva with her defense and can also take some initiative when presented with an opportunity. Given her opponent's less than stellar form, the Dane might just manage to emerge victorious.
Pick: Caroline Wozniacki to win in three sets.
