Tennis
Sakkari – Begou 2-1: Epic qualification with a surprise in the semifinals of the Madrid Open for the Greek tennis player
Despite trailing 1-0 in the set, Maria Sakkari managed to beat Begu 2-1 with an epic multi-break excitement from the Greek tennis player to advance to the semi-finals of the Madrid Open, where she faced Arina Sambalenka on Thursday will start at 5:00 p.m. in the afternoon
Maria Sakkari (No. 8), now at World No. 8, was tested hard against Romanian and World No. 35 Irina Begu for about 3 hours at Manolo Santana, with the Greek tennis player 6-7 (3), 6 – won. 4, 6-4 and qualified for the Madrid semifinals for the first time in her career. There she meets Arina Sabalenka (No. 2), whose game is scheduled for Thursday afternoon at 5:00 p.m.
This is the 4th time that the Greek tennis player has reached the semifinals this season after the tournaments in Leeds, Doha and California, but also for the 3rd time at WTA 1000, while at the same time with this victory she secured promotion to 8th place in the world and surpassed Daria Kasatkina, who was banned from continuing the event.
In the 1st set of…74 minutes(!), Begu led twice with a break (2-1, 4-3), but Sakkari found the answers both times. In the first case, Sakakri immediately took back her lost serve and equalized it to 2-2, while in the second case, the Greek tennis player did exactly the same, but Begou managed to “erase” all 4 break points. Sakkari, who made a huge hold (5-3).
What Sakkari wasn’t doing at the time, she was doing just as Begu was preparing to close the set (5-4) by catching a break and equalizing at 5-5. However, Roumana “hit” again in Sakkari’s next service game, “broke” Sakkari’s serve again, taking a 6-5 lead and holding the balls to serve for the set for the second time.
But again Sakkari had an answer and after another break she leveled the set again and equalized 6-6, the score being settled in the tie-break. Sakkari found the first mini break (2/1) but Begu equalized immediately with 2/2 and 3/3 later. From there, Begu took the next four points (7/3), finishing the set and taking a 1-0 lead.
In the 2nd set things got even more difficult from serve position for both players, with Sakkari receiving just 13 points off her serve and Begu 14. The set started with three breaks, with Sakkari grabbing two and Begu one (2-1).
Then the Greek tennis player found a rhythm but also another break, leading 5-2 and an opportunity to end the set. However, the Romanian won with a break and a hold in the next two games to 5-4, with Sakkari serving for the second time to win the set, which she did in a 1-1 draw.
In the deciding set, Begou started Sakkari’s first service game with a hold (1-0) but also a double break point (15/40), with the Greek tennis player winning the next four points by holding serve (1-1 ).
What the Romanian couldn’t do, Sakkari did immediately after a break in another full game and after four break points Sakkari took a 2-1 lead, which she easily extended to 3-1.
The key in set 3 was game 6 where Sakkari had to clear another break point by making a crucial grab to maintain the break advantage (4-2) while then going on with a new break of their own to go 5- made. 2 to end the game on her serve and seal qualification for the semis.
There she awaits world No. 2 Arina Sabalenka, who previously took 3 sets to defeat Mayar Sheriff 2-6 6-2 6-1.
Source: Tennis24.gr
Source: sport 24
18-year-old Russian tennis player Mirra AndreevaPerforming in “neutral” status, he also responded to the words of the Ukrainian football player while answering the question about the change of citizenship at the press conference he held after the Australian Open match. Alexandra OleynikovaStating that Russians and Belarusians should not play at the professional level, he said:
– Last year many players from Russia changed their sports citizenship. What do you think about this and have you considered this option for yourself?
– To be honest, I didn’t even think about it. For example, I heard and saw that Dasha Kasatkina changed her citizenship. Many players have made this decision, but I continue to play as I am now. I didn’t have any suggestions or anything like that, so everything remains unchanged for now.
– Does this increase the pressure to play without a flag and represent a country that has such a policy?
– No, it does not put any pressure on me. I’m just doing my job on the field. I’m focusing on how I can get better, how I can improve as a tennis player. So it’s not a pressure for me.
– A Ukrainian tennis player spoke quite harshly and said that players from Russia and Belarus should not play tennis at all. How do you react to such words?
– I believe that every person has their own opinion. I don’t want to judge a player or person based on what they say. He can have his own point of view and say whatever he sees fit.
Source: Sport UA
I am a sports journalist who has worked in print and online. I have authored articles for a sports website and have covered sports news for over 6 years.
They will face each other in the 3rd round of the Australian Open on January 23 Elina Svitolina (WTA 12) and Diana Schneider (WTA 22).
The meeting is planned to start at 10:00 Kyiv time.
Sport.ua together with a betting partner bet announcing the upcoming fight!
Elina Svitolina
Ukraine’s first racquet is having an excellent season; He confirmed his top seed status by winning the tournament in Auckland. Svitolina started her journey in this tournament by defeating Spanish athlete Cristina Buxa with scores of 6:4, 6:1. In the second round, she managed to defeat Polish Linda Klimovichova with sets of 7:5 and 6:1.
The Ukrainian player increased his first serve percentage in the second match compared to the first match: 64% versus 49%. The upcoming opponent for Elina is the toughest opponent of the season, this applies both in terms of ratings and class. Potentially, Svitolina could play the winner of Mirra Andreeva – Elena-Gabriela Ruse in the next round.
Diana Schneider
“Nötrka” has already managed to play in two tournaments this season, looked good and was ahead of its rivals in the top 10. In Brisbane, Schneider defeated another former “neutral” Anastasia Potapova, representing Austria, 6:1, 6:3. And then, in the tough fight, Madison Keys was defeated with scores of 7:6, 6:7, 6:7.
In Adelaide, the athlete defeated the following rivals: Leila Fernandez – 7:5, 6:3, Katerina Sinyakova – 6:1, 2:6, 7:5, followed by a victory over American Emma Navarro – 6:3, 6:3. Only in the semifinals did Mirra Andreeva lose with sets of 3:6, 2:6. At the Australian Open, the tennis player started with victories of 2:6, 6:3, 6:3 against the experienced Czech Barbora Krejcikova. The match against Australian Tallia Gibson was incredibly difficult – 3:6, 7:5, 6:3 and she managed to win three match points in the second set.
Match prediction
As statistics show, the rivals never played each other. The Ukrainian athlete is seen as the slight favorite of this pair. Svitolina is ten years older than him and has more experience.
In such a confrontation, a stubborn struggle that can lead to any outcome should be expected. There is no need to remind how important the match against the “neutral” will be for the Ukrainians. Here I would risk betting more than 20.5 total games for 1.64.
Elina Svitolina01/23/2026 –
10:00
Diana Schneider 1.64 place a bet KRAIL License No. 559 dated 12/05/2024 Source: Sport UA
I am a sports journalist who has worked in print and online. I have authored articles for a sports website and have covered sports news for over 6 years.
Russian tennis player Daniil Medvedev He reacted to the interview with a Ukrainian woman at the press conference Alexandra Oleynikova For the L’Équipe publication in which he accused the Russians of supporting Putin:
– The Ukrainian tennis player said that, in his opinion, Russians should not be allowed to participate in international tennis tournaments. He also condemned players, including you, for participating in an exhibition match sponsored by a major Russian oil company with ties to the war in Ukraine. How will you react to this?
– In general, I respect everyone’s every opinion. I’m trying… It’s a little different on the field, isn’t it? However, I respect all opinions off the field. “This is his opinion and frankly I have nothing to say about it,” Medvedev said.
Oleinikova’s words were also commented on by Arina Sabalenko and Diana Schneider, whom Oleinikova also mentioned in her interview.
Source: Sport UA
I am a sports journalist who has worked in print and online. I have authored articles for a sports website and have covered sports news for over 6 years.
The Utrecht – Genk match was watched because of the chaos in the stands
Andreeva spoke about the change of citizenship and responded to Oleinikova’s words
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