Alexandrova clinches victory and Sorribes Tormo's resilience prevails, will face each other into the final showdown
WTA
Ekaterina
Alexandrova defeated Zhu Lin and Sorribes Tormo overcame Tatjana Maria to face
each other in the final of the Cleveland Open.
In the
first match of the day, Zhu Lin faced off against Ekaterina Alexandrova. The
23-year-old Chinese player was aiming to reach the second singles final of her
career. Her first title came in February 2023 when she won the WTA 250 Hua Hin
Championships Open.
Zhu reached
the semifinals by eliminating the first seed and world No. 7 Caroline Garcia.
On the other hand, Alexandrova was the only seeded player to make it to the
semifinals, following the quarterfinal exits of Garcia and Sloane Stephens.
The
28-year-old Russian advanced with a 7-5, 6-2 victory in one hour and 22
minutes. Alexandrova capitalized on three of the seven break points she had,
while Zhu managed to convert only one of her two opportunities.
Alexandrova
had a strong service performance with a 63% serve percentage, winning 78% of
her first serve points, and claiming 57% of the total match points to secure a
decisive spot in the final.
In the
second match of the day, two of the tournament's surprises faced off: Lucky
Loser Sara Sorribes Tormo, who eliminated Siniakova, Kudermetova (the third
seed), and Sloane Stephens (the 9th seed), went up against the 36-year-old
German Tatjana Maria.
Their only
previous encounter was at the 2016 Tokyo Open, where Maria secured a
comfortable victory with a score of 6-3, 6-1.
However,
this time, the match favored Sorribes Tormo. She overcame an initial 4-2
deficit, winning four consecutive games to take the first set 6-4. In the
second set, Sorribes Tormo managed to break Maria's serve three times while
losing her own service once, ultimately securing a final score of 6-4, 6-3.
This
victory will mark Sorribes Tormo's fifth career final, with a current record of
3-1 in finals. She achieved her career-best ranking of world No. 32 in 2022 but
faced setbacks due to injuries in the following months.
However,
her recent success has propelled her back up the rankings, and the win
guarantees her a spot at least as world No. 79, after being outside the top 130
not long ago. As for Alexandrova, she holds a record of 4-2 in finals, having
won the last three she contested.
The
head-to-head record shows only one previous encounter, a qualifier match in the
2016 Linz Open, with Sorribes Tormo emerging victorious with a score of 6-4,
7-6(6).
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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