In a hard-fought match, Maria Sakkari defeats Aryna Sabalenka 7-6, 6-7, 6-3 and is the first Greek semi-finalist in the tournament's history.
Sakkari gets the win and advances to the semifinals! Will face the red-hot Kontaveit tomorrow. A combo of nerves and the altitude led to some very scratchy tennis, especially from Sabalenka's end.
“I think the atmosphere makes it even more special,” Sakkari said in her on-court interview. “It’s my first night match—I knew it was kind of unreal out here, but playing in front of you guys, it’s my first big win in Mexico and I think I will never forget it.”
The Belarusian had all kinds of opportunities in the first set, not only breaking for a 5-3 lead but—after getting broken right back—bringing up a set point with Sakkari serving in the next game, 4-5, 30-40. But she missed a forehand putaway wide on that set point, and after a few more holds the two went to a tie-break, where Sakkari tore through seven points in a row from 1-0 down to claim a one-set lead.
After again building a 5-3 lead in the second set, and even holding two set points in that game, Sabalenka eventually crept out the second set in a tie-break, closing it on her fourth set point with a massive crosscourt backhand winner.
Then, after a slight hiccup—she got broken in the opening game—Sabalenka continued to forge ahead in the third set, opening up a 3-1 lead. But like she’s done so many times throughout her career and especially this year, Sakkari fought back, battling through the last five games in a row to complete an absolutely electric win.
The game lasted 2 hours 47 minutes.
