Maria Sakkari moved within one victory of lifting a trophy in her hometown Saturday, defeating Russia’s Alina Korneeva 6-1, 7-5 to reach the final of the Athens Open.
The fourth-seeded Sakkari controlled the opening set before Korneeva provided more resistance in the second, but the Greek favorite completed the victory in 1 hour, 23 minutes. Sakkari’s run comes 40 years after her mother, Angeliki Kanellopoulou, reached the final of a WTA tournament in Athens.
Sakkari will face No. 3 seed Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic, who eliminated top-seeded Clara Tauson of Denmark 6-1, 4-6, 6-3. Krejcikova regrouped after dropping the second set to reach her first final of the season in a match that was nearly twice as long as the other semifinal at two hours and 45 minutes.
UniCredit Iasi Open
Spain’s Paula Badosa extended her winning streak to nine matches by rallying past Slovenia’s Tamara Zidansek 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (1) in the semifinals at Iasi, Romania.
Badosa recovered after dropping the opening set and was pushed deep into the next two. The former world No. 2 finally took control in the crucial tiebreaker, winning six straight points and advancing to her second straight final after winning last week’s Nordea Open.
Egypt’s Mayar Sherif claimed the other spot in the championship match by dispatching third-seeded Oleksandra Oliynykova of Ukraine 6-3, 6-1. Sherif won 10 of the final 11 games to reach her first tour-level final in two years.
–Field Level Media
