GUADALAJARA: Caroline Dolehide, ranked 111th in the world, beat former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin on Friday to reach her first WTA final at the Guadalajara Open, where she will face second seed Maria Sakkari of Greece.

Playing in her first career semi-final, the 25-year-old Dolehide fought back from a break down in both sets against Kenin to win the all-American clash 7-5, 6-3 in an hour and 25 minutes.

Dolehide, who saved four match points against Martina Trevisan in the quarter-finals, was 4-2 down in the opener before winning three straight games to take a 5-4 lead and taking the set.

She was trailing 3-1 in the second set and won five straight games for victory, saving five break points in the final game before sealing the result on her first match point.

World number nine Sakkari reached the Guad­alajara final for the second straight year after a 6-3, 6-0 win over third seed Caroline Garcia of France.

Sakkari, who lost to Jessica Pegula in last year’s final, had just three unforced errors in the opening set, breaking for a 3-1 lead as she took control. She broke Garcia to open the second set in a game the French player led 40-15, and fought off three break points to push her lead to 4-0.

Published in Dawn, September 24rd, 2023