Madrid Open Highlights – Second seed Aryna Sabalenka stormed past Maria Sakkari with a 6-4, 6-1 victory in the semifinal of the Madrid Open 2023 on Thursday, 4th May 2023. With the win, Sabalenka reach her fourth final in the WTA Tour this year. She will either face Iga Swiatek or Veronika Kudermetova in the summit clash on Saturday. Follow Madrid Open 2023 LIVE updates on InsideSport.IN
Madrid Open Highlights: Aryna Sabalenka advances to Madrid Open final, defeats Maria Sakkari in straight sets in semifinal – Watch Highlights
With the victory, Sabalenka extended her head-to-head advantage against Sakkari to 6-3. The World No.2 sailed past the Greek in 1 hour and 25 minutes. Sabalenka started the contest on a dominating fashin as she managed to break Sakkari’s very first service game and lead 2-0. However she allowed the Greek to make a comeback soon. Sakkari managed to break Sabalenka and soon levelled the contest 3-3.
From then on both the players held their respective service games as Sabalenka took a 5-4 lead. She soon broke back Sakkari in the very next game and managed to win the first set 6-4.
In the second set, Sabalenka bettered her performance. She clinched the first break at 3-1. From then on, the contest became a one-way traffic. Sakkari couldn’t manage to make a comeback as Sabalenka ran away with a double break and took an unassailable 5-1 lead. Sakkari had a break point as she lead 40-30 in the next game. However the Belarusuian saved the break point and two successive errors from Sakkari followed that helped Sabalenka seal the contest in her favour.
After the match, Sabalenka had high praise for her own performance. “I think it was actually my best match of the tournament,” she said. “I started really well. Then Maria came back. But mentally I was staying really strong. I knew that she’s going to fight for every point. It didn’t, how to say, didn’t destroy me that she came back. I was still playing, I was still fighting for every point.”
“Yeah, I’m super happy with the level that I played, and especially with my mental game, I would say. I’m more happy with my mental game,” she added.
Madrid Open LIVE: Aryna Sabalenka eye spot in final, faces Maria Sakkari challenge in semifinal of Madrid Open 2023 – Follow LIVE updates
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