Early elimination for Sakkari at the Miami Open, losing 2-1 to Andreescu

Maria Sakkari (No. 10) took the lead in sets, but was unable to complete the win against Bianca Andreescu (No. 31), the Canadian managed the complete turnaround in the major qualification with 5: 7, 6: 3, 6-4 after 3 hours and 4 minutes and qualified for the third round of the Miami Open.

Like last year, Sakkari bid a premature farewell to the Miami Open, ending three straight losses since the 2021 semifinals when she lost again to Andreescu while being defeated by Beatriz Haddad Maia in between (2022).

The Greek tennis player had a lot of problems with serving position, suffering a lot today with Andreescu threatening her a total of 12 times (!), winning 66% of the points behind the 1st serve, while the most important and the one that cost it, were Sakkari’s many effortless errors, reaching 54!

The game started with Sakkari finding solutions from the 2nd serve, only passing 33% of the first, while Andreescu was more comfortable behind the line. The first blow came from the Greek tennis player, who died in the 7th 0.

Andreescu broke back (4-4) and then led 5-4, reaching a game after the set. However, it was the moment Sakkari found a back-to-back first serve and equalized with a relatively easy hold to make it 5-5.

The crucial break came shortly after as Sakkari capitalized on the Canadian’s collection of unforced errors to end the first leg of the game on her serve 6-5 after saving Andreescu’s break point to take a 1-0 lead after 63 go log.

As much help Sakkari got from serving in the 1st set, she lost in the 2nd as the Greek tennis player hit 4 double faults while having just 33% on the 2nd serve (4/12). That’s exactly what Andreescu took advantage of when she found a break in the 4th game, leading 3-1 and then 4-1.

In fact, she reached a point away from 5-1, but with a big hold Sakkari reduced it to 4-2 and effectively stayed in the set. In the very crucial 7th game, Sakkari put great pressure on the Canadian’s serve, holding it after 7 draws without suffering a break point from the Greek tennis player, making it 5-2.

Simple holds followed from there, followed by Sakkari (5-3) and another from Andreescu, who with an impressive set point ended the set 1-1 after 54 minutes.