Surprise in Fort Worth (Texas): Aryna Sabalenka, 7th in the world, beat No. 1 Iga Swiatek, yet the favorite of the event, and qualified for the final of the WTA Masters, where French Caroline Garcia awaits her on Monday (no 6), faller of the Greek Maria Sakkari (no 5).
The 24-year-old Belarusian, who sometimes lets herself be overwhelmed by stress in big matches, defied the odds on Sunday in the heart of the Dickies Arena, winning without trembling 6-2, 2-6, 6-1.
Her striking power ended up breaking the Polish woman who seemed to have no more gas in her tank, after a dream season, marked by eight titles including two Majors at Roland-Garros and the International States United, a crazy series of 37 matches won in a row in the spring, all reflecting an overwhelming domination on the circuit, since the retirement of Australian Ashleigh Barty.
In Fort Worth, Swiatek continued to impress by sweeping his three group opponents, including Garcia in straight 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.
Imperial Garcia
The 21-year-old Polish, quite annoyed by her bad start, which saw her be broken three times, was able to revive herself in the second set. She even went it alone, taking up more space and countering better too.
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 did not miss the opportunity to drive the point home, clubbing again and again, to win a second match in their six confrontations.
Like Garcia, she will try to add an 11th title to her list, which would undoubtedly be the best.
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.
Always so aggressive, she 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 set, started with two consecutive breaks to break away 4-0. Sakkari, who was just dropping her shots to keep up with the infernal pace imposed by her rival, could not change the course of the match.
Unpublished poster
Because Garcia, has also been very effective in service, with 6 aces that have inflated her total to 379 this season, an area where she is sure to finish in first place ahead of Kazakh Elena Rybakina (370).
She can become the second Frenchwoman to add her name to the list on Monday, after Amélie Mauresmo, who was crowned at the expense of Mary Pierce in 2005, during a final then 100% tricolor.
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, after more than four years without brilliance, between crisis of confidence, tennis in distress and recurring physical problems, which she managed to overcome this year, to go up from 75th place to the top 5 in the world, 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 to pass a course.
Krejcikova and Siniakova on course for a double
Defending doubles champions Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova advanced to the final with a 7-6(5), 6-2 win over Lyudmyla Kichenok and Jelena Ostapenko.
The first-seeded Czech pair are set to wrap up a dominant season, having suffered just three losses so far. She has also won all three Grand Slam tournaments she has participated in.
It was the third victory this season for Krejcikova and Siniakova against the tandem of Ukrainian Kichenok and Latvian Ostapenko, ranked fifth. One of those victories came at Wimbledon.
Krejcikova and Siniakova will face the winning duo of Veronika Kudermetova and Elise Mertens and Desirae Krawczyk and DemiSchuurs in the season-ending tournament final on Monday.
