Maria Sakkari is set to begin her 2026 Qatar Open campaign with a first-round match against wildcard Zeynep Sonmez. This matchup will determine who faces sixth seed Jasmin Paolini in the next round. Sakkari comes into the tournament ranked No. 49 while Sonmez holds the No. 79 spot, gradually establishing her presence in WTA main draws.
In terms of experience and form, Sakkari is the more seasoned player. However, she faced an early exit in the second round of the Australian Open and has struggled to advance past the second round in most of her events throughout the 2025 season. Her most significant achievement in recent competitive history was reaching the finals at Indian Wells in 2024; her last title came from Guadalajara in 2023. Statistically, Sakkari has demonstrated solid but unspectacular performance this season, winning 63.3% of her first-serve points and 41.8% of her return points across 50 matches, with moderate break-point conversion at 41.3%.
On the other hand, Sonmez enters this match with a fresher perspective. Notably, she achieved a career-high third-round finish at the Australian Open and also reached the quarterfinals at the Angers 125 and Merida events last season. While her overall performance still tends to lean towards early exits, her statistics for 2025 show a competitive edge in return strength, winning 44.2% of return points and boasting an impressive break-point conversion rate of 48.9%.
Looking ahead to betting predictions, the upcoming match on February 9 at 4:10 PM AST at the Khalifa International Tennis Complex will feature various betting options. The best bet highlighted is Total Games Over 21.5 at odds of -110 from FanDuel, reflecting the match’s likely competitiveness. The odds reveal a lean towards Sakkari based on her experience, yet both players have shown potential for a tightly contested match. Given their head-to-head record is tied at 1-1, the chances of a three-set encounter remain high.
For those interested in watching the match, it will be broadcasted on several networks, including Tennis Channel and ESPN, across different regions. Live streaming options are also available through platforms such as WTA TV and various regional broadcaster services.
In light of both players’ strengths and weaknesses, this match is anticipated to be not only a test of skill and resilience but also a promising display of talent as they vie for advancement in the Qatar Open.