No.9 seed Maria Sakkari of Greece claimed the final spot in the round of 16 at the Abu Dhabi WTA Women’s Tennis Open, defeating 16-year-old American Coco Gauff, 7-5, 6-2 in the Saturday night.
The Greek star defeated the American teenager to complete the third-round lineup at the Abu Dhabi WTA No.9 seed Maria Sakkari of Greece claimed the final spot in the round of 16 at the Abu Dhabi WTA Women’s Tennis Open, defeating 16-year-old American Coco Gauff, 7-5, 6-2 in the Saturday.
Sakkari had notched a straight-set win over Gauff in their sole previous meeting, which came at the Western & Southern Open in New York last season. The Greek had to come back from a double-break down in the first set to repeat the feat in Abu Dhabi, eventually clinching an 85-minute victory over the World No.48 from the United States.”I just found solutions and got the win, and I still have one more chance to play better,” Sakkari told the media, after her victory.”I just stayed patient; I knew that I had a bad start, but I couldn’t just keep on playing that way, so I had to change something,” the Greek player continued. “I’d have to say it worked out pretty well.”
The Greek found the lines to power her way to a hold for 6-5, then drew errors from her American opponent in the following game to zip to double set point. Gauff saved the first with a strong crosscourt forehand, but on the second, Sakkari once again had pinpoint accuracy, slamming a forehand winner’s.
A forehand winner to close it out! 👊@mariasakkari defeats Gauff in straight-sets, 7-5, 6-2.#AbuDhabiWTA pic.twitter.com/JBfiLE1EhN
— wta (@WTA) January 9, 2021
