A huge turnaround touched the dawn n Maria Sakkariwho was defeated by Elena Rybakina in 2-1 sets (6-0, 6-7(4), 7-6(2)) in 2 hours and 24 minutes, missing out on his semi-finals WTA Finals. Now the next obligation for the Greek champion is the game with Jessica Pegula in the early hours of Friday, finishing this year in the Top 10 for the 3rd consecutive year.
Cool, calm & collected??
Elena Rybakina holds off Sakkari 6-0, 6-7(4), 7-6(2) for her maiden WTA Finals win.#WTAFinals pic.twitter.com/HpPqapQWar
— wta (@WTA) November 1, 2023
In the first set, Sakkari made several effortless mistakes, while trying to make it difficult for the 24-year-old athlete from Kazakhstan, who actually took advantage of them and easily reached the 1-0 set within 22 minutes.
In the second set, Maria Sakkari was much better, she made some very good shots, which she could not in the first set, and both athletes were sent to the tie break.
Battling back??@mariasakkari | #WTAFinals pic.twitter.com/fZK3yCKO2k
— wta (@WTA) November 1, 2023
Rybakina, despite Sakkari’s very good performance, managed to equalize the game, with the set leading to the tie break, where the Kazakh tennis player immediately made a mini-break and took a 2-0 lead, but Sakkari with her own counterattack she broke her serve twice and took the tie break 7-4.
In the third and final set, the Greek champion entered with a lead, but Rybakina managed to escape thanks to her serve and take a big lead with a break in the sixth game (4-2). Sakkari reacted again and found herself with two break points at 4-4.
Elena Rybakina hit a stunning drop volley against Maria Sakkari tonight.
The confidence it took to pull this shot off at 4-4 in the final set. ?????????
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) November 1, 2023
Rybakina then took the lead again and finally the match was finally decided on a tie break. There, Elena Rybakina attacked Maria Sakkari’s second serve, took a 6-0 lead and closed the match with an ace on her third match point.
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