Maria Sakkari, Digi Mart USA News: Fourth seed Maria Sakkari broke serve four times to beat Belarusian qualifier Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-2, 6-3 and reach the semi-finals in Hong Kong. The Greek, without a title since Guadalajara in 2023, is now one win from her first final of the season.
Sakkari beat Sasnovich in 1 hour 27 minutes on Friday, losing her own serve only once. She will face either Antonia Ruzic or second seed Alexandra Eala in the last four of the WTA 250 event.
Sakkari, ranked 30th, has yet to reach a final this season. Her last title came in Guadalajara in 2023, when she beat Caroline Dolehide 7-5, 6-3 in the final.
She had also beaten Sasnovich 6-2, 6-1 in the last 16 in Berlin in 2023.
Sakkari broke in the second game, converting her fourth break point, and held to love for 4-1. She broke again on her third set point to take the opener 6-2 after 36 minutes.
In the second set, Sakkari moved ahead 4-2 with a break, but Sasnovich broke back for 3-4 on her third break point. The Greek broke straight back for 5-3 and served out the match to love, converting her first match point.
Her serve held firm throughout.
Sakkari held eight of her nine service games and saved two of the three break points she faced. She won 65% of her second-serve points, against 37% for Sasnovich, who served three double faults to none for Sakkari.
Sakkari opened her week with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Carol Young Suh Lee of the United States in the first round. She then came from a set down to beat Australia’s Maya Joint 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 in 2 hours 14 minutes.
Ruzic or Eala now stands between her and a first final of the season.
Sasnovich, ranked 101st, won two qualifying matches to reach the main draw. She then beat Katie Volynets of the United States 6-3, 6-2 in the first round.
In the second round, she needed 3 hours 5 minutes to edge Australia’s Talia Gibson 6-1, 5-7, 7-6 (7).
Results on the day: Alexandra Shubladze (Q) d. Sorana Cirstea (1) 6-2, 6-3; Claire Liu d.
Zeynep Sonmez 6-1, 6-4; Maria Sakkari (4) d. Aliaksandra Sasnovich (Q) 6-2, 6-3; Antonia Ruzic vs Alexandra Eala (2) to follow.
