The nights are hot in Miami for the top seeds in the women’s tournament. After Aryna Sabalenka, seeded n°2, and Iga Swiatek, seeded n°1, who fell by the wayside during night matches, it was Elena Rybakina, seeded n°3, who felt the wind of the cannonball. But the Kazakh managed to overcome Maria Sakkari, seeded n°8, to qualify for the semi-finals.
If only one point had been won by the raiser in the first three games, the rest became much tighter. The two women returned blow for blow. Finally in possession of her physical means, Rybakina was challenged by Sakkari who also returned to her best level. After months of doubt, the Greek found her punch. She was on par with Rybakina on serve and more than held her own in the rest of the game. But the world No. 3 was able to raise her level at the right time to pocket the set.
Without it being a long, smooth river (she conceded two consecutive breaks), she seemed to be heading towards a victory in two sets. Back in front, she offered herself two match points. But Sakkari, on his serve, pushed them aside. In the process, she won the right to play a decisive game. More effective, she left no opening for Rybakina who found herself engaged in a third set.
The waitresses ruled the roost until Sakkari was broken in the seventh game. She was going to save two match points again on her serve, but she couldn’t do anything on the fifth, on Rybakina’s serve. The Kazakh’s almost smile after her victory gave a glimpse of how complicated it had been. In the semi-finals, she will face Victoria Azarenka, a difficult opponent of Yulia Putintseva (7-6). [4]1-6, 6-3).
2024-03-27 03:19:15
#Elena #Rybakina #takes #Maria #Sakkari #Miami
