Tennis acca tips: Maria Sakkari to win on her return to WTA Tour

Maria Sakkari exited the US Open in tears but she hasn't taken the extended break from the game she hinted at.

Sakkari is right back into action as she seeks a balm to her worries on the Asian swing.

Aside from action in Osaka, the WTA also stages the 500 level San Diego Open this week.

WTA Osaka: Anna Kalinskaya vs Harriet Dart | Pick: Kalinskaya

WTA Osaka: Nadia Podoroska vs Mai Hontama | Pick: Podoroska

WTA Osaka: Ashlyn Krueger vs Jessika Ponchet | Pick: Krueger

WTA Osaka: Arianne Hartono vs Panna Udvardy | Pick: Hartono

WTA Osaka: Elizabeth Mandlik vs Rebecca Marino  Pick: Mandlik

WTA Osaka: Lin Zhu vs Moyuka Uchijima | Pick: Zhu

WTA San Diego: Anhelina Kalinina vs Barbora Krejcikova | Pick: Krejcikova

WTA San Diego: Emma Navarro vs Aliaksandra Sasnovich | Pick: Navarro

WTA San Diego: Maria Sakkari vs Maria Camila Osorio Serrano | Pick: Sakkari

WTA San Diego: Ons Jabeur vs Anastasia Potapova | Pick: Jabeur

WTA Osaka: Anna Kalinskaya vs Harriet Dart

Anna Kalinskaya and Harriet Dart are neck and neck after two meetings but have not faced each other in nearly four years.

A place in the quarterfinals awaits the victor of this clash with Kalinskaya aiming to progress beyond the last eight for the first time this season.

Dart does have a title to her name this season but it is worth noting that it came on grass.

Kalinskaya should have the edge on the hard courts of Osaka.

WTA Osaka: Nadia Podoroska vs Mai Hontama

Nadia Podoroska has played some excellent tennis on the WTA Tour this season and needed to fight hard to reach the Round of 16 in Osaka.

Podoroska's path will next be obstructed by home player Mai Hontama.

Hontama rallied from a second set beguiling in the first round to win her place in the last 16.

This will be the first meeting between these players in a competitive match at any level.

WTA Osaka: Ashlyn Krueger vs Jessika Ponchet

Ashlyn Krueger and Jessika Ponchet have a great chance for a last eight run.

Krueger looks to be the hungrier of the two players as the junior player of the two.

Ponchet hasn't been able to crack the top 100 and while Krueger hasn't either she is trending towards that milestone at just 19-years-old.

This will be the first meeting between these players at any level.

WTA Osaka: Arianne Hartono vs Panna Udvardy

The Dutch star with collegiate links Arianne Hartono is enjoying a hot run in Osaka.

Udvardy hasn't had too much to write home about at this level this season but a strong effort in Japan would set her up for a big finish to the season.

Hartono holds the lead in the head to head between the players and that might prove crucial.

Udvardy defeated Bogota champion Tatjana Maria in the first round but Hartono is on a roll right now.

WTA Osaka: Elizabeth Mandlik vs Rebecca Marino

While Elizabeth Mandlik has had to battle her way into the Osaka main draw through qualifying she has played some superb tennis and bested Diane Parry last time out.

Marino might struggle to contain the allround game of Mandlik after cruising past Nao Hibino first up.

Mandlik doesn't appear to be impacted by the long run to reach this stage.

However, Marino has had a busy 2023 campaign and might not have the appetite for a longer contest.

WTA Osaka: Lin Zhu vs Moyuka Uchijima

Top seed Lin Zhu will be out to extinguish a home hop in Moyuka Uchijima and avenge her Billie Jean King Cup loss to the Japanese player.

Zhu blew past Ankita Raina to make a winning start to her Asian swing in emphatic fashion.

The players haven't met on tour with their team event meeting their only competitive match.

The draw looks enticing from Zhu's point of view and with her home events coming up she could use a boost to stand out from the crowd.

WTA San Diego: Anhelina Kalinina vs Barbora Krejcikova

Former world No 2 Barbora Krejcikova holds a 2-0 lead on the head-to-head against Anhelina Kalinina and the smart money is on her to make it 3-0.

Krejcikova showed signs of a resurgence earlier this season when she won the WTA 1000 Dubai Tennis championships but she hasn't been able to mount a consistent challenge.

Kalinina will struggle to find any gaps in the game of Krejcikova though and will need to pounce on any errors.

Krejcikova should be confident in her ability to progress from this encounter.

WTA San Diego: Emma Navarro vs Aliaksandra Sasnovich

Emma Navarro has a final chance to impress on home soil this season after promising much early on.

Navarro will have to turn around the result of the previous meeting with Aliaksandra Sasnovich to keep her run going in San Diego.

Navarro was impressive in putting away Jasmine Paolini in the first round and should be high on confidence.

That said Sasnovich accounted for Belinda Bencic in the previous round and is favoured by the sportsbooks.

WTA San Diego: Maria Sakkari vs Maria Camila Osorio Serrano

Sakkari has turned around from her tearful exit from the US Open but will have the tennis world watching her closely.

Serrano is a tough first opponent for the Greek No 1 who has traditionally done well in the last season.

Sakkari enjoyed a by through the first round and will play her first match since the US Open on Wednesday evening.

Sakkari won the only previous encounter between these players at Nottingham last year in straight sets.

WTA San Diego: Ons Jabeur vs Anastasia Potapova

Ons Jabeur also had a disappointing US Open and will need to bounce back against a tricky opponent in Anastasia Potapova.

While Jabeur beat Potopova in straight sets in their only previous meeting which came over two years ago.

Jabeur has been battling illness but has assured that she is fit and ready to fight for a WTA Tour finals place.

The Tunisian is well-placed in the race but could certainly use a few points from San Diego.