WTA Guadalajara: Sakkari clinches last WTA Finals berth with QF win over Kudermetova

Greece’s Maria Sakkari rose to the occasion and secured the last berth at the season-ending WTA Finals after a hard-fought win over Russian Veronika Kudermetova in the quarter-finals of the Guadalajara Open on Friday evening.

In a winner-take-all battle, the fourth seeded Sakkari edged out the eighth seeded Kudermetova 6-1, 5-7, 6-4 in two hours and 35 minutes to advance to the semi-finals and deny the Russian a spot in the eight-woman event. The Greek saved 14 of 15 break points in the match.

Sakkari is the last to finally join the list of the players qualified :

• 1. Iga Swiatek
• 2. Ons Jabeur
• 3. Jessica Pegula
• 4. Coco Gauff
• 5. Caroline Garcia
• 6. Aryna Sabalenka
• 7. Daria Kasatkina
• 8. Maria Sakkari

Sakkari, ranked No 6 in the world, will meet Marie Bouzkova for a place in the final. The Czech woman advanced to the final four when Russian Anna Kalinskaya retired while trailing 5-2 in the first set.

The Greek player holds a 2-0 edge over Bouzkova.

Ahead of Friday’s victory, Sakkari had defeated Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk (6-4, 6-4) and American Danielle Collins, the No 14 seed (5-7, 6-3, 6-3) in the tournament.

Former world No 1 Victoria Azarenka will take on third seed Jessica Pegula in the other semi-final.

Guadalajara WTA 1000, other quarter-final results (Centro Panamericano de Tenis, hard, USD 2.527.250, most recent results first):

• Marie Bouzkova beat Anna Kalinskaya 5-2 retired
• Jessica Pegula (3) beat Sloane Stephens: 6-2, 6-2
• Victoria Azarenka (LL) beat Coco Gauff (5): 7-6 (2), 4-6, 6-3

Guadalajara WTA 1000, semi-finals (Saturday)

Azarenka vs. Pegula (3)
Sakkari (4) vs. Bouzkova

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