A relentless Maria Sakkari capped her good run by means of the spherical robin stage of the WTA Finals with a 6-2 6-3 win over Ons Jabeur on Friday to achieve the semi-finals in Fort Price, Texas together with group runner-up Aryna Sabalenka.
Sakkari broke twice for a 5-1 cushion en path to capturing the primary set, which meant Tunisian world quantity two Jabeur had no mathematical likelihood of advancing even when she had rallied again to victory.
Within the second set, with Sakkari and Sabalenka already safely into the knockout stage, the Greek world quantity 5 broke early for a 3-1 lead and raced house from there to enhance to 3-0 within the stage of the season-ending match.
“I am trusting myself, I am simply fearless on the courtroom and I’m having fun with myself right here,” Sakkari, who has not dropped at set in Fort Price, stated throughout her on-court interview.
“There is no such thing as a secret behind how I’m taking part in however I feel it was about time simply to start out taking part in good once more and I’m very completely happy that it is truly occurring right here.”
By profitable her group, Sakkari will face both Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia or Russian Daria Kasatkina within the semis whereas Sabalenka will face world primary Iga Swiatek.
Within the day’s first match, Belarusian world quantity seven Sabalenka eradicated Jessica Pegula from the WTA Finals with a 6-3 7-5 victory to enhance to 2-1.
Sabalenka made a blistering begin, breaking Pegula to open the match and once more for a 5-2 lead. World quantity three Pegula then fought off 4 set factors to interrupt straight again however Sabalenka broke to like within the subsequent recreation to wrap up the set.
Pegula fell behind 2-0 within the second however fought again earlier than Sabalenka, at 3-3, delivered a love maintain after which got here again from 40-15 down for a crushing service break earlier than the top-ranked American returned the favour to increase the set.
However Sabalenka held to like for the third time within the set and fourth within the match for a 6-5 lead after which closed it out on her second match level when she ripped a backhand crosscourt winner.
“She’s an incredible participant and he or she made me actually work tonight,” stated Sabalenka. “Simply completely happy that I used to be actually centered from the start to the tip and I used to be in a position to end this match in two units.”