Maria Sakkari vs Yuliia Starodubtseva Prediction U.S. Open - New York · Sep 4, 2026

Analysis

Maria Sakkari is the more decorated of the two, a hard-court grinder whose flat, heavy groundstrokes and elite movement have long suited the quick, high-bouncing courts in New York. No recent results were supplied for her, so this read leans on style, pedigree and surface fit rather than form numbers. The only match on file for Yuliia Starodubtseva is a 0-2 defeat to Elise Mertens on 28 August 2026, a reminder that she can be out-manoeuvred by opponents who change direction well and take time away from her. Starodubtseva is a tall, first-strike ball-striker who can run away with a set when her serve and forehand are landing, and that ceiling keeps a deciding set very much in play. Over three sets, though, Sakkari's conditioning and her comfort in long baseline exchanges should be the separator, even if the margin is thin enough that straight sets are far from guaranteed.