Maria Sakkari played in the Ostrava Open final last year losing to Kontaveit but her loss this year came far sooner as Alycia Parks proved better 5-7, 7-5, 7-5.
The American stunned Pliskova yesterday serving up a bagel for her and it was a display of some serious tennis skill. We saw the same thing today as she outlasted Sakkari in a very long and great match that finished 15 minutes short of the three-hour mark.
Sakkari took an early break in the first game of the set but could not hold it for long as Parks broke back in the very next game. It remained calm for a while as both found a solid rhythm on serve but Sakkari was able to convert a rare chance in the finish of the set and hold serve to take it 7-5.
She was just a bit more stable overall and that mattered. It mattered in the second set as well because it was another well-constested one. Both players really had a solid time on serve with no break points for the majority of the set. Towards the end, Sakkari gave Parks a chance and she took it while she wasted one earlier in the match.
The 3rd was another superb one from Parks who faced only one break point and it was in the first game of the set. After that, she stabilized and served well not allowing Sakkair any chances. She took the one she got late in the set to finish off the match.