World No. 5 Maria Sakkari superior to the final 4 of the WTA Finals for the second straight 12 months on Wednesday as Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur received her marketing campaign again on monitor with a battling victory.
Greece’s Sakkari secured her place within the semifinals in Fort Worth, Texas, after cruising previous seventh-seeded Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus 6-2, 6-4.
Sakkari’s second win of the round-robin stage left her on prime of the Nancy Richey Group with one match remaining.
Sakkari will qualify in prime spot from the group if she beats Jabeur in her ultimate first-round sport.
“It feels great, just giving myself the chance to play my next match a little bit more relaxed, and enjoy another battle,” Sakkari mentioned after her win.
“Obviously I want to win – I still want to go undefeated. It’s gonna be a very tough match but it’s nice to feel like my hard work is paying off finally,” she added.
Jabeur, who had been overwhelmed by Sabalenka in three units on Monday, shrugged off that loss with a spirited 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory over Jessica Pegula of the United States.
Sabalenka will pip Jabeur for a semi-final berth if she beats Pegula in her ultimate group sport.
Pegula was left ruing her failure to capitalize on a quick begin in her defeat to Jabeur, a dropping finalist at Wimbledon and the US Open this 12 months.
The American roared via the opening set, successful six straight video games after dropping the primary.
Jabeur responded with an early break for a 2-1 lead within the second earlier than dropping her serve at love.
Jabeur managed to proper the ship, breaking twice in a row to pressure the third set.
The decider was tightly contested, Pegula failing to transform 5 early break factors.
Jabeur lastly gained the higher hand with a break for 5-3 and polished off the win after an hour and 41 minutes.
“After the first set, she was playing really well and really fast,” Jabeur mentioned.
“The balls were tough, very low. I know she likes to play the balls like that. And I just had to find that click to just change up the rhythm and impose my game.”
Pegula was shocked to find that she was not but mathematically eradicated, though it could take an unlikely mixture of outcomes to see her attain the semi-finals.
“I’m still in?” Pegula requested a questioner at a post-match press convention. “That’s good to know. I’m still alive, somehow.”
