Athens Open Semi-finals Round-Up | Maria Sakkari reaches home final as Krejcikova survives Tauson comeback

Saturday, 18 July 2026 at 23:15

Maria Sakkari moved one win away from a dream home title at the Athens Open after defeating teenage sensation Alina Korneeva in straight sets to reach the final. The Greek star dominated the opening set before overcoming a much tougher second-set challenge, holding her nerve in the closing stages to continue her run in front of the home crowd.

Barbora Krejcikova later joined her in the championship match after surviving a three-set battle against Clara Tauson. The two-time Grand Slam champion overcame a second-set comeback from the Dane before regaining control in the decider to set up a final clash with Sakkari in Athens.

Sakkari reaches first Athens final

Maria Sakkari def. Alina Korneeva 6-1, 7-5

Maria Sakkari moved into the Athens Open final after overcoming Alina Korneeva 6-1, 7-5, continuing her impressive run in front of the home crowd. The Greek star completely dominated the opening set, winning five consecutive games after Korneeva briefly held serve at the start.

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Sakkari was almost untouchable behind her first serve, winning 80% of points on her opening delivery and giving the teenager very few opportunities to respond. Korneeva struggled to match the intensity and consistency of the former world No. 3, who quickly took control of the semifinal.

The second set, however, presented a much bigger challenge. Sakkari earned the first break and moved ahead early, but Korneeva immediately responded by breaking back to keep the set level. The teenager showed much greater resilience and managed to stay competitive as the momentum shifted between both players.

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Sakkari eventually found another opening at 4-4, earning the break to move ahead 5-4 and serve for the match. But Korneeva once again refused to surrender, breaking back immediately to increase the uncertainty and force Sakkari to find another solution.

The final moments belonged entirely to the Greek favourite. Sakkari won the last two games of the match, finishing with a dominant love hold to secure her place in the Athens final.

The victory sends Sakkari into the 11th final of her career as she searches for her third WTA title. It is also her first final appearance in more than two years, with her previous final coming at Indian Wells 2024, where she finished runner-up to Iga Swiatek.

Krejcikova continues dominant Athens run

Barbora Krejcikova def. Clara Tauson 6-1, 4-6, 6-3

Barbora Krejcikova booked her place in the Athens Open final after overcoming Clara Tauson in a competitive three-set semifinal, recovering from a second-set collapse to secure a 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 victory.

The Czech faced early pressure from Tauson, but managed to stay composed through a demanding opening stretch before finding the first breakthrough at 3-1. From that moment, Krejcikova took control of the match, using her experience and consistency to frustrate the Dane. The two-time Grand Slam champion won the final four games of the set, taking the opener 6-1 after dominating the closing stages.

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Krejcikova appeared to be heading toward a straight-sets victory after immediately putting pressure on Tauson again in the second set. She earned the first break and moved ahead 3-2, but the Dane responded with a much higher level of intensity.

Tauson began to find more rhythm from the baseline and took advantage of Krejcikova’s drop in efficiency on serve. The Dane recovered the break and then pushed aggressively in the final stages, winning the last two breaks of the set to turn the match around and force a decider with a 6-4 second-set win.

The momentum initially remained with Tauson, who opened the deciding set with a hold to extend her run to four consecutive games. However, Krejcikova quickly stopped the comeback, finding the first break of the set and regaining control of the semifinal.

The Czech maintained her advantage throughout the deciding set, staying solid in the key moments and eventually closing out the victory with a final break of serve after two hours of battle. Krejcikova advances to the Athens final, where she will face home favourite Maria Sakkari in a clash between two former Top 5 players searching for their first title of the season.

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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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