
In a win-or-go-home encounter that saw both ladies give it their all, Maria Sakkari was able to overcome top seed Aryna Sabalenka in the final group stage match of the WTA Finals, securing her place in the knockout phase.
The Greek star required an exhausting two hours and 47 minutes to battle past the World No.2, obtaining a 7-6(1) 6-7(6_ 6-3 victory in one of the longest matches of the season. With both ladies exchanging breaks in the first set, it came down to a tiebreak that saw Sakkari put her foot on the gas and capitalize on Sabalenka's dubious second serve to win the set.
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Nonetheless, the Belarusian was able to regain momentum in the second set, breaking Sakkari and earning the chance to serve out the set twice at 5-4 and 6-5. However, her Greek opponent fought back, leveling the score to reach a second tiebreak. After obtaining a minibreak to lead 4-2, Sakkari was unable to close out the match, faltering and allowing Sabalenka to escape with the second set.
The deciding set saw both ladies unable to hold serve, with Sabalenka committing an atrocious ten double faults. This, coupled with her opponent's consistent consistent play, allowed the Greek No.1 to obtain the crucial break, winning the final five games to prevail after just under three hours.
Sakkari will face Estonian Anett Kontaveit in the semifinal, with both ladies tied at two wins apiece in matches played against each other this year.
Growing up in a household where soccer was king, my earliest memories are filled with chants from packed stadiums and the rhythm of a ball being passed across neighborhood streets. But somewhere along the way, the quiet elegance and raw emotion of tennis pulled me in. What began as a curiosity became a lifelong passion; not just for the sport itself, but for the stories it tells: of grit, of heartbreak, of improbable comebacks and human resilience.
As a tennis writer, I bring the observational lens of someone who didn’t grow up in the sport, but fell in love with it as an outsider; a perspective that lets me see both its technical beauty and its emotional depth. Over the years working with TennisUpToDate, I’ve had the privilege of reaching more than 3.5 million readers worldwide, with one of my features ranking among the site’s top three articles.
With a background in storytelling and a creative mind always searching for meaning beyond the scoreboard, I aim to craft narratives that go deeper than results and rankings. Whether it’s a rising star breaking through or a veteran fighting off Father Time, I try to capture the heartbeat behind the headlines.
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- I, like writer of this wonderful article, also picked Noskova to win this entire thing. I would love it if she and Andreeva are in the final.Rapunzel12-11-2026
- "Priorities", Saba... spend less time in front of cameras, anti-Social Media, selfies and back to Tennis.
mandoist12-11-2026 - Tell this to Andreeva!
mandoist12-11-2026 - Andreeva with 11 games in a row to add to Saba's downward spiral issue !!! Personal feelings aside... Jess Pegula may want to reassess her evaluation of Mirra's abilities.
mandoist12-11-2026 - I predicted whenthe list was finalised that Linda Noskova would win the WTA Finals and her matches against Gauff and Kostyuk prove that. She is the best (underrated) player in the world!Rapunzel11-11-2026
- Either Lena has a chronic internal ailment (i.e., colitis, enteritis, Crohn's, or some type of lower abdomen issue) -- or she is once again dealing with 'Vukovitis'. Mental stress can indeed cause lower body pains. No matter... whatever is truly going on sucks. "Virus" excuse is getting a bit old -- and often -- at this point.
mandoist09-11-2026 - Ironically, Martina became a U.S. Citizen about the same time as the Orange Convicted Felon & Abuser was just beginning on his road to losing all Daddy's Millions!!
mandoist09-11-2026 - "Another fresh start is in the cards." Thanks for the Humor!! I'm guessing this is the minimum one can do to keep all your sponsors hanging-on in perpetuity?
mandoist09-11-2026 - Vukov is doing this to Lena... AGAIN!!!!! WTA's autonomous collective should be dismantled for allowing Vukov to re-emerge from his hand-slapping suspension. Just ask WTA employees how that's been going lately as they witness his continued verbal abuses. Women's Pro Tennis should start over.
mandoist08-11-2026 - Can't help but suspect Vukov is back to his old self again. Thank you, WTA. Perhaps you can give them a "Battling Couple of the Year Award 2026" ??
mandoist08-11-2026







