World number four Kazakh Elena Rybakina defeated Greek María Sakkari 6-0, 6-7(4), 7-6(2) on Tuesday to stay alive at the WTA Finals in Cancun, Mexico.
Rybakina had to show her best tennis to win the tie break of the third set and seal an emphatic victory, after being run over by her opponent in the opening set.
With 91 percent of points won on the first serve, a coolness when he had break opportunities in his favor and a strong performance on his backhand, the 2022 Wimbledon champion swept his rival in six games.
The other was the story of the second set, where María avoided several break points in the first game and from there she recharged her energy with good returns and a better performance on her serve.
Sakkari pressed; In the sixth game he took a 30-0 lead and although he couldn’t break, he kept the Kazakh at bay, reducing the intensity of his tennis.
They reached 6-6 after 12 games, leading to a tie break, which María won 7-4 by taking advantage of her rival’s mistakes.
In the third Rybakina saved three break points in the first game and was broken in the sixth, but she could not confirm and the rivals kept the match until 6-6 which again caused a sudden death decision.
With a precise backhand on the lines, flawless service and patience, Elena stopped the effusive Sakkari, made three mini breaks to escape 6-0 and after giving away two points, won 7-2.
“It took me a while to get back up to speed; it was a difficult match, but serving and not being negative in difficult moments helped me,” said Rybakina.
Pegula took first place in the group
A few moments before the American Jessica Pegula She showed her best tennis and beat Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, world number one, 6-4, 6-3.
In the first set, Pegula made a difference on her return and stopped her rival, determined to crush her powerful serve, one of the best on the circuit. The American made two breaks, in the fifth and seventh games and, although he did not confirm the second of them, he then made a good serve and took the set 6-4.
Sabalenka tried to force conditions in the second set with shots like missiles, but Pegula patiently came back and broke twice in a row to take a 4-0 lead.
At last Aryna availed herself of her great service; He moved to 4-1 and although he put the North American under pressure in the sixth game, Pegula shook off a break point, held serve and made it 5-1.
Sabalenka served well in the seventh game and broke in the eighth to get within 5-3, but Pegula won the mental war in the ninth and after surrendering four match points, hit in the fifth to seal victory.
Pegula took first place in her group with two wins unbeaten, followed by Sabalenka and Rybakina (1-1) and Sakkari, who was eliminated after suffering two defeats.
This Thursday Pegula will face Sakkari, while Sabalenka and Rybakina will face off for the second ticket to the semifinals.
This Wednesday is Polish Iga Swiatek second racket in the world, he will face American Coco Gauff, third in the world and US Open champion, who will expose his undefeated record. Tunisian Ons Jabeur and Czech Marketa Vondrousova will then play for a victory that will keep them alive in the championship.
Source: La Verdad
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