Maria Sakkari vs. Zeynep Sonmez Prediction, Odds, Best Bets & How to Watch
Maria Sakkari opens her 2026 Qatar Open a campaign against wildcard Zeynep Sonmez in a first-round match. The winner earns a second-round meeting with sixth seed Jasmin Paolini. Sakkari enters ranked No. 49, while Sonmez sits at No. 79, still consolidating her first extended run at WTA main-draw level.
From a form and run standpoint, Sakkari remains the more established player. But she exited in the second round at the Australian Open recently and hasn’t progressed beyond the second round in most 2025 season events as well. Her last final came at Indian Wells in 2024, and her most recent title dates back to Guadalajara 2023. Statistically, her 2025 run reflects solid but unspectacular efficiency with 63.3% first-serve points won and 41.8% return points won across 50 matches, with moderate break-point conversion at 41.3%.
Sonmez, by contrast, brings a lighter workload and a sharper recent peak. She reached the third round at the Australian Open, a career-high, and posted quarterfinal runs at Angers 125 and Merida last season. Her overall results still skew toward early exits, but her 2025 stats show competitive return strength (44.2% return points won) and a notably higher break-point conversion rate (48.9%). However, these stats could be slightly deceiving due to the sheer low amount of WTA matches.
For today’s tennis picks, here’s how we’re betting on Maria Sakkari vs. Zeynep Sonmez today, including our Best Bet, supporting angles, and a set-score prop for bigger prices.
Tournament & Round: Qatar Open, Round of 64 (R64)
Surface: Outdoor Hard Court
Format: Best of Three Sets
Date & Start Time: February 9, 4:10 PM AST Local Time
Court: Khalifa International Tennis Complex, Doha, Qatar
21+ and present in AZ/CO/CT/IA/IL/IN/KS/LA (permitted parishes only) /MA/MD/MI/NJ/NY/OH/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY. Minimum $10 first deposit required. Promotion Bonus will be credited to your account within 72 hours settlement of Qualifying Wager. First online real money wager only (minimum $5). Bonus issued as non-withdrawable bonus bets that expires in 14 days. Bonus bets and NFL Sunday Ticket code will be issued within 72 hours of bet placement. See full terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com.
Maria Sakkari vs. Zeynep Sonmez Odds
Given below are the latest odds for Maria Sakkari vs. Zeynep Sonmez from the top sportsbooks. We are looking at the match money line, game handicap, and total games, plus some set betting markets where available.
21+. AZ/CO/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA/MD/MA/MI/NJ/OH/PA/TN/ VA/WV/WY only. Offer not available in DC/MS/NV/NY/PR. New customers only. Qualifying deposit (min $10) and first real money wager required. If qualifying bet settles as a loss, user is refunded 100% in non-withdrawable bonus bets up to $1,500. Full T&Cs can be found on betmgm.com.
Maria Sakkari vs. Zeynep Sonmez Prediction & Picks
Our Pick: Total Games Over 21.5 (-110, FanDuel)
The market clearly leans toward Sakkari on name value and historical ceiling, but the pricing reflects uncertainty. At -142, FanDuel implies roughly a 58.7% win probability. Sonmez’s return stats introduce meaningful resistance, especially on a hard court where Sakkari’s serve advantage has not consistently translated into short matches.
This is why the Total Games Over 21.5 stands out as the most price-efficient angle. Given both players’ competitiveness and head-to-head (1-1), there are chances of a three-set match, plus odds are aligned that way per the market. At -110, the overpriced variance without demanding a full upset.
From a risk perspective, backing Sakkari on the moneyline or handicap requires confidence in her closing level, something her recent results don’t fully justify. So, the totals market better captures the matchup tension.
21+. AZ/CO/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA/MD/MA/MI/NJ/OH/PA/TN/ VA/WV/WY only. Offer not available in DC/MS/NV/NY/PR. New customers only. Qualifying deposit (min $10) and first real money wager required. If qualifying bet settles as a loss, user is refunded 100% in non-withdrawable bonus bets up to $1,500. Full T&Cs can be found on betmgm.com.
Maria Sakkari and Zeynep Sonmez are tied 1-1 in their head-to-head, with both of their meetings last season and both on hard courts.
Year
Winner
Event
Round
Score
2025
Maria Sakkari
Tokyo
Qualifying 1
7-5, 6-3
2025
Zeynep Sonmez
Merida
Round of 32
7-5, 6-2
Final Score Prediction & Set-Betting Prop
Projection: Maria Sakkari wins in three sets.
Higher Variance Set Bet: Over 2.5 Sets (+136, FanDuel). Given that this is a higher-risk bet, it would be advised to use this as a secondary angle, rather than a primary one.
How can I watch Maria Sakkari vs. Zeynep Sonmez on TV and live stream?
TV broadcasters for the 2026 Qatar Open include Tennis Channel (US), ESPN (US & Latin America), TSN & RDS (Canada), TNT Sports / Discovery+ (UK & much of Europe), Nine / Stan Sport (Australia), and Sky NZ (New Zealand).
Streaming options vary by region and often require subscriptions. Live streaming is available on WTA TV (official WTA streaming platform), and regional broadcasters’ own streaming services (Discovery+, ESPN platforms, Stan Sport, TSN/RDS apps, etc.)
Match
Maria Sakkari vs. Zeynep Sonmez
Date
February 9, 2026
Start Time
4:10 PM AST Local Time
Tournament
Qatar Open 2026
Event Type
Women’s Singles (WTA 1000)
Surface
Outdoor Hard Court
Court
Khalifa International Tennis Complex, Doha, Qatar
TV Coverage
Tennis Channel (US), ESPN (US & Latin America), TSN & RDS (Canada), TNT Sports / Discovery+ (UK & much of Europe), Nine / Stan Sport (Australia), Sky NZ (New Zealand)
Live Streaming
WTA TV (official WTA streaming platform), and regional broadcasters’ own streaming services (Discovery+, ESPN platforms, Stan Sport, TSN/RDS apps, etc.)
Mandatory Image Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
I’m an academic turned sports writer from Raipur, India, specializing in the NFL, MMA, and tennis at The Playoffs. I previously wrote for Sportskeeda and hold a B.A. and M.A. in History. My journey into sports media began far from the field, rooted in the arts and sciences. Funny enough, I didn’t grow up a sports fan; I used to see it all as just noise. But a fateful writing job introduced me to the world of sports, and what began as a gig quickly became a passion. I understood those voices aren’t noise; they’re emotions of true sports fans, and now I am one of them, writing with the same energy I once questioned.
nfl 
mma 
