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Match details
Fixture: (7) Maria Sakkari vs Shelby Rogers
Date: March 10, 2023
Tournament: BNP Paribas Open
Round: Second round (Round of 64)
Venue: Indian Wells, California, USA
Category: WTA 1000
Surface: Outdoor hardcourt
Match timing: (March 10) Not before 3 pm local time, 11 pm GMT, 6 pm EST, (March 11) 4.30 am IST
Prize money: $8,800,000
Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel/TC Plus | UK - Amazon Prime Video
Maria Sakkari vs Shelby Rogers preview
Seventh seed Maria Sakkari locks horns with home hope Shelby Rogers in the second round of the BNP Paribas Open on Friday.
Sakkari has had a decent season so far, although she has fallen short of expectations. The World No. 7 guided Greece to the semifinals of the United Cup in her opening event of the season.
Following a third-round exit from the Australian Open, the 27-year-old was knocked out in the semifinals at Linz, a tournament where she was the top seed and a title favorite.
Sakkari bounced back soon after with yet another finish in the last four, this time at Doha. In Dubai, however, she fell in the first round to former World No. 1 Karolina Pliskova.
Sakkari has now returned to Indian Wells, where she has fond memories of reaching the final last year.
Former World No. 30 Shelby Rogers, meanwhile, has come to Indian Wells with a 9-6 win-loss record for the year. The biggest highlight of the American's season prior to the BNP Paribas Open was her run to the quarterfinals in Abu Dhabi after having started in the qualifying rounds.
She has won a combined five matches in the other four tournaments she has played this year.
The 30-year-old began her Indian Wells campaign on Thursday with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 victory over compatriot Katie Volynets.
Maria Sakkari vs Shelby Rogers head-to-head
Rogers holds a 3-0 advantage over Sakkari in their head-to-head. Sakkari has managed to win just one set across three meetings so far.
Their most recent face-off was in San Jose in 2022, where the American ran away to a 6-1, 6-3 win.
Maria Sakkari vs Shelby Rogers odds
(Odds sourced from bet365)
Maria Sakkari vs Shelby Rogers prediction
Although Sakkari is the higher ranked player in this duel, her record against Rogers isn't very encouraging. The heavier conditions in Indian Wells will also put the American at an advantage.
Currently one of the hardest hitters on the women's side, Sakkari brings an offensive brand of tennis to the court. However, her movement isn't one of the strongest elements of her game.
Rogers, on the other hand, has good footwork and likes to make forays into the net at every opportunity. With a decent return at her disposal, the World No. 41 likes to exploit Sakkari's one-dimensional game whenever they cross swords.
The fact that the Greek is mentally fragile under pressure doesn't help her cause either.
Going by how their last three meetings have panned out, it is difficult to pick the World No. 7 in this match-up.
Pick: Shelby Rogers to win in three sets.
