FORT WORTH (Texas): Maria Sakkari fended off a second-set fight back from Aryna Sabalenka to emerge with a 6-2, 6-4 victory and reach the semis of the WTA Finals on Wednesday as Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur got her campaign back on track with a battling victory over Jessica Pegula.
Sakkari cruised through the first set and led 3-0 in the second before the hard-hitting Belarusian roared back, winning four straight games to take a 4-3 lead. But the determined Greek reeled off the final three games and raised her arms in triumph when Sabalenka’s running forehand landed wide on the purple indoor hard courts in Texas.
Sakkari’s second win of the round-robin stage left her on top of the Nancy Richey Group with one match remaining. Sakkari will qualify in top spot from the group if she beats Jabeur in her final first-round game.
“It feels great, just giving myself the chance to play my next match a little bit more relaxed, and enjoy another battle,” Sakkari said after her win. “Obviously I want to win — I still want to go undefeated. It’s gonna be a very tough match but it’s nice to feel like my hard work is paying off finally.”
Jabeur, who had been beaten by Sabalenka in three sets on Monday, shrugged off that loss with a spirited 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory over Pegula of the United States. Sabalenka will pip Jabeur for a semi-final berth if she beats Pegula in her final group game. Pegula is not yet mathematically eliminated, although it would take an unlikely combination of results to see her reach the semi-finals.
Published in Dawn, November 4th, 2022
