Maria Sakkari and Aryna Sabalenka have won their first match at the WTA Finals in Fort Worth. Sakkari defeated world number three American Jessica Pegula in two tie breaks and Sabalenka defeated world number two Ons Jabeur 3-6 7-6(5) 7-5.
Victory tasted particularly sweet for Sakkari, who recorded her first win of the year against a player in the top five. Eight days ago she met Pegula in the final of the WTA 1000 tournament in Guadalajara. Pegula then easily won 6-2, 6-3 to claim her second WTA title.
In Fort Worth, Sakkari played much more aggressively than in Guadalajara. That wasn’t surprising, given that she only got a few hours’ rest after her semi-final win over Marie Bouzková was postponed due to rain.
The first set lasted 71 minutes, a minute longer than the entire match played by Sakkari and Pegula in Mexico. Sakkari broke her opponent in the opening game but had to give up that break three games later.
The two were then able to break each other twice before a tie-break had to decide. Finally, with a tight pass, Sakkari hit their third set point.
In the second set, Sakkari took a 3-0 lead, but couldn’t hold it. Pegula cleared two more match points, managed a tie break, but had to capitulate on Sakkari’s third match point.
Sabalenka fights back
In the other match of this group, Jabeur had several chances to win, but in the end it was world No. 7 Sabalenka who clinched the win.
Jabeur won the first set 6-3 and took a 5-3 lead in the tiebreak of the second set. Sabalenka finally got up and forced the decisive third set in the tie-break.
In that third set, Jabeur took a 4-2 lead and was a point away from a 5-2 lead. Again Sabalenka bit off and fought for a 6-5 lead. When Jabeur served, she then struck with her first match point.
Check out Sabalenka’s match point in the tweet below.
Demi Schuurs and Desirae Krawczyk could not surprise in doubles. In the first group game, the pair lost (8) to Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova (1): 4:6, 3:6.
Schuurs and the American got more break points than their opponents (ten to nine), but the Czechs used their chances much better (seven breaks to four).
Krejcikova and Siniakova won three of the four Grand Slam tournaments that year. They missed Roland Garros, which they won in 2018 and 2020, because of Corona in Krejcikova. They took Olympic gold in 2021 and won the WTA Finals.
Source:NOS
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