(Fort Worth) Big surprise in Fort Worth: Aryna Sabalenka, 7e world, beat the N.1 Iga Swiatek, yet the favorite of the event, and qualified for the final of the WTA Masters, where the French Caroline Garcia (N.6), faller of the Greek Maria, awaits her on Monday. Sakkari (N.5).

The 24-year-old Belarusian, who sometimes lets herself be overwhelmed by stress in big games, defied the odds on Sunday in the heart of the Dickies Arena, winning without trembling 6-2, 2-6, 6-1.

After this feat, she herself seemed the first surprise. “Every time I play against her, I just want to make sure I give her a hard time,” said Sabalenka, who had lost all four of her previous encounters to Swiatek.

It was the striking power of the Belarusian who ended up breaking the Polish, who seemed to have no more gas in her tank, at the end of a dream season, marked by eight titles including two Majors, at Roland-Garros and the United States Open. A crazy series of 37 games won in a row in the spring, all reflecting an overwhelming domination on the circuit, since the retirement of Australian Ashleigh Barty.

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“On the one hand, I am sad to have lost, but on the other, rest awaits me […]. This season has been so intense and I’m so proud of what I’ve achieved,” summarized the Pole after her loss.

Before that, in Fort Worth (Texas), Swiatek had continued to impress by sweeping his three group opponents, including Garcia in two sets, to the point that we did not see how this Masters could escape him.

But she was overwhelmed by Sabalenka’s battering in the first set, who took advantage in particular of her feverishness in this sector – a festival of double faults also crossed this meeting, 9 for the Belarusian against 6 for the Pole.

imperial garcia

Swiatek, 21, quite annoyed by her bad start which saw her be broken three times, was able to get back in the second run. She even went it alone, taking up more space and countering better.

But she was still committing too many unforced errors and it was this irregularity, mirror of a night without, that gave Sabalenka hope for the last set. The Belarusian didn’t miss the chance, bludgeoning again and again, to win a second game in their six total encounters.

Like Garcia, she will try to add an 11e title on his list, the most beautiful.

Driven by an irresistible desire, imperial on the court, the 29-year-old Frenchwoman outclassed Sakkari 6-3, 6-2, achieving her most successful match of the tournament.

“It’s an additional, very important step in my career, I’m really very proud”, reacted in a press conference the Lyonnaise.

Always aggressive, Garcia constantly put her opponent on the back foot, and often at fault. Sharp on the return, placed well inside the court, she took advantage of the Greek’s failing serve to win the first set in 35 minutes. And she pressed the accelerator again in the second, started with two consecutive breaks. Sakkari was just dropping his punches to try to keep up the infernal pace.

Unpublished poster

Garcia has also been very effective on serve, with six aces to boost her total to 379 this season, an area where she is sure to finish first.

Above all, she can become the second French woman to add her name to the list on Monday, after Amélie Mauresmo in 2005.

For Garcia, reaching the Masters final is a huge satisfaction, after a flamboyant summer that saw her win three titles (Bad Homburg, Warsaw, Cincinnati) before reaching the semis at the US Open.

A rebirth, too, after more than four years without brilliance, between crisis of confidence, tennis in distress and physical worries, which she managed to overcome this year, to go up from 75e place in the world top 5, at the end of this tournament.

Sabalenka-Garcia, the poster is new for a Masters final and will have its share of uncertainties, between two players with different styles, who will above all have to control their emotions.

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