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By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday November 4 2022

 
Maria Sakkari

Maria Sakkari ran the table in group play at the WTA Finals, finishing up with a victory to eliminate Ons Jabeur.

Photo Source: Getty

After her 6-3, 7-5 victory over Jessica Pegula on Friday in Fort Worth, Aryna Sabalenka still needed help from Maria Sakkari. If the Greek could claim a set from Ons Jabeur in Friday’s second semifinal, the 24-year-old would qualify for the semis for the first time at the WTA Finals.

“Fingers crossed,” she said.

It took just 35 minutes for Sakkari to lend a hand, as the Greek marched through the first set without complication and eliminated Jabeur with a 6-2, 6-3 victory to improve to 3-0 in group play.


Sakkari, ensured of first place in the group, avoids facing Iga Swiatek in the semifinals. The Greek has found some scintillating form at the end of a challenging season.

“I’m trusting myself. I’m just fearless on the court. I’m enjoying myself here,” she said. “There’s no secret behind how I’m playing, it was about time to start playing good again. I’m just very happy that it’s actually happening here.”

The unenviable task of facing Swiatek goes to Sabalenka. Her 1-4 lifetime record against Swiatek includes a victory over the Pole in the pair’s first meeting at the WTA Finals in Guadalajara last year. But she has dropped four straight against the Polish juggernaut including a three-set decision in this year’s US Open semifinals.

Sakkari will face either Caroline Garcia or Daria Kasatkina in the semifinals on Sunday – Garcia and Kasatkina will meet in semifinal action on Saturday in Fort Worth. The Greek had just one Top-10 victory to her name in 2022 until this week – she has added three more in five days with wins over Jessica Pegula, Sabalenka and Jabeur.

 

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