Maria Sakkari snags last semifinal berth at WTA Finals
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[November 16, 2021] Maria
Sakkari surged to win the final four games against top-seeded Aryna
Sabalenka on Monday and advance to the semifinals of the WTA Finals.
The fourth-seeded Greek player, making her debut in the event, beat
her Belarusian opponent 7-6 (1), 6-7, 6-3 to complete the group play
at Guadalajara, Mexico.
Sakkari wound up 2-1 in the round-robin phase of the event while
Sabalenka went 1-2.
Up next for Sakkari is a semifinal matchup against No. 8 Anett
Kontaveit of Estonia, who won two of three matches in the other
first-round group.
In a Monday match that had no impact on who would advance,
already-eliminated Iga Swiatek upset semifinal-bound Paula Badosa
7-5, 6-4.
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Swiatek, a Polish player who was seeded fifth,
finished with a 1-2 record in group play. Badosa, a Spanish player
who was seeded seventh, went 2-1, with the lone defeat coming on her
24th birthday.
Swiatek, 20, said, "I think it was a really solid match from me. I'm
pretty happy that I had a chance to show my tennis finally, overcome
all these factors around, just play the game.
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"For sure this tournament was special. Playing three days with such
high-quality players, it's hard. I hope my next time is going to be
a little bit more lucky for me".
Badosa admitted she was already focused on her upcoming semifinal
matchup with Spanish compatriot Garbine Muguruza, the sixth seed.
"I think it's amazing to have two Spanish players (in the final
four)," Badosa said. "For me it was already a dream to be here, so
you can imagine how I feel to play the semifinals and against her."
--Field Level Media
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