Maria Sakkari vs Marina Stakusic Prediction 4/1/25 Charleston Tennis Picks

Maria Sakkari and Marina Stakusic clash in the first round of the 2025 WTA Charleston Open on Tuesday, April 1, 2025. Here’s our Maria Sakkari vs Marina Stakusic prediction. This preview will also include a Maria Sakkari vs Marina Stakusic pick.

Maria Sakkari Preview

Maria Sakkari is making her fourth main draw appearance at the WTA Charleston Open. She was beaten in the second round stage in her debut appearance in 2017 but reached the quarterfinals a couple of years later. Last year, Sakkari reached the semifinals, competing in this WTA 500 event, and lost to eventual champion Danielle Collins.

Sakkari is 6-11 for the season in 2025, failing to win successive matches at any tournament. She has two wins from her last seven matches and is coming off a third-round loss to Coco Gauff in Miami. Last season, Sakkari won nine of 15 matches on clay, and her semifinal run in Charleston was her best result on the surface.

Marina Stakusic Preview

Marina Stakusic sits at 126th in the WTA rankings. She has never broken into the Top 100, and her career-high ranking is No. 114. Stakusic was an integral part in Canada’s maiden BJK Cup success a couple of years ago but hasn’t consistently hit those heights of beating players ranked above her in the rankings. She is a modest 6-8 for the season in 2025. Her best result at Tour level so far was reaching the last 16 stage in Cluj Napoca as a qualifier. Stakusic is coming off a quarterfinal run at the WTA 125K in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Stakusic has never played in the WTA Charleston Open before. This will be her first appearance. She has a lifetime record of 22-18 on clay on the pro tour.

Maria Sakkari vs Marina Stakusic Head-To-Head

• Sakkari and Stakusic have never met at any level. This will be their first career meeting.

Maria Sakkari vs Marina Stakusic Prediction

Sakkari is having a poor season by her standards and finds herself outside the Top 50 for the first time in a long time (currently ranked 64th at the start of this week). She is lacking in self-belief and confidence and has lost 11 matches in three months this season (she lost only 16 in the whole of 2024). But I still expect her to bounce back on clay. It’s one of her favorite surfaces, and she is up against a player who doesn’t possess the same level of pedigree and experience on clay. Give me Sakkari in straight sets.