Sakkari – Begou 2-1: Epic qualification with a surprise in the semifinals of the Madrid Open for the Greek tennis player

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