Sydney Tennis Classic 2022: Garbine Muguruza vs Daria Kasatkina preview, head-to-head & prediction

Match details

Fixture: (2) Garbine Muguruza vs Daria Kasatkina.

Date: 13 January 2021.

Tournament: Sydney Tennis Classic 2022.

Round: Quarterfinal.

Venue: Sydney, Australia.

Category: WTA 500.

Surface: Outdoor hardcourt.

Prize money: $703,580.

Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Amazon Prime Video.

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Garbine Muguruza vs Daria Kasatkina preview

Muguruza at the 2022 Sydney Tennis Classic.

Garbine Muguruza and Daria Kasatkina are set for a quarterfinal showdown at the 2022 Sydney Tennis Classic on Thursday.

Muguruza kicked off her 2022 season with a 6-1, 7-6 (4) win over Ekaterina Alexandrova. Playing in her first match of the year, the Spaniard showed no signs of any rust, winning the first 13 points of the match and claiming the opening set in no time.

The second set was more competitive as the duo traded early breaks to begin. Muguruza then saved five set points while serving to stay in the set at 4-5. In the tie-break, the former World No. 1 took a commanding 6-1 lead, but needed four match points to close out the proceedings.

Kasatkina at the 2022 Sydney Tennis Classic.

Meanwhile, Daria Kasatkina has continued her strong start to the 2022 season. She defeated Elise Mertens 6-3, 6-4 in the second round to advance to the quarterfinals in Sydney. The Russian had defeated 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin in the first round.

Kasatkina will be looking to reach back-to-back semifinals following her run to the last-four in last week's Melbourne Summer Set. She lost that match 6-2, 6-0 to eventual winner Amanda Anisimova in a one-sided affair.

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Garbine Muguruza vs Daria Kasatkina head-to-head

The two have competed against each other five times so far, with Muguruza leading 3-2 in head-to-head. All but one of their matches have gone to three sets. Muguruza won their most recent encounter at the 2020 Qatar Open 7-5, 5-7, 6-3.

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Garbine Muguruza vs Daria Kasatkina prediction

Muguruza at the 2021 WTA Finals.

Muguruza enters this contest as a slight favorite over Kasatkina.

The Spaniard will look to dictate the proceedings with her firepower. Muguruza has also made considerable improvements with respect to her forehand and second serve, which were a liability early on in her career.

Kasatkina, on the other hand, will try to outwit her opponent on the court with her craftiness. Her versatile style of play makes her unpredictable and can catch opponents off guard.

Given their form, this could go down to the wire with Muguruza eking out a narrow win.

Prediction: Muguruza to win in three sets.