The Miami Open finalist continues to display a high level of performance. This time Sakkari defeated Viktoriya Tomova in straight sets to secure the first spot in the quarterfinals of the WTA event in Charleston. In order to advance to the top eight, she will have to face either Tsurenko or Sharma.
Ranked seventh in the world, he faced Bulgarian opponent Tomova in a bid for a spot in the third round of the WTA 500 event in Charleston. Sakkari has consistently demonstrated tennis befitting a top-ten player, having been a finalist at Indian Wells and reaching the quarterfinals of the Miami Open, marking his best performances of the year so far. While Tomova was not expected to pose a significant challenge for the Greek player, the match was not to be taken lightly. Sakkari held a 2-1 advantage in their previous encounters.
Maria turned the match around from a slow start.
The third-seeded player initially fell behind on the scoreboard, conceding a break to her opponent in the third game. Tomova played well and put pressure on Maria, leading to numerous errors from the Greek player. However, Maria managed to break Tomova's serve in the sixth game by hitting precise shots along the lines and forcing errors from the Bulgarian. Securing a second break with a powerful cross-court shot, Maria won the set 5-3.
A strong finish from Sakkari.
The second set was closely contested, with both players maintaining their composure and minimizing unforced errors. Maria faced a break point against her in the sixth game but managed to fend it off with strong first serves. In the subsequent game, she capitalized on an error from her opponent to secure a crucial break. Maria sealed the match with a brilliant finish, breaking Tomova's serve again with a well-placed cross-court shot to win the set 6-3 and claim victory.
