Sensational Maria Sakkari dominates Storm Hunter to reach Guadalajara Open round of 16
WTAWednesday, 20 September 2023 at 04:52
Maria
Sakkari maintained her composure and defeated Storm Hunter in straight sets,
advancing to the round of 16 at the Guadalajara Open with a score of 6-2, 6-4.
The
29-year-old Australian returned to the singles main draw at a WTA 1000 event
for the first time since the Miami Open, where she went through the qualifying
rounds and lost in the first round to Sofia Kenin.
In the
opening round, Storm Hunter (157th) defeated Belarusian player Iryna
Shymanovich (160th) with a score of 6-3, 6-4, marking her first victory at a
WTA 1000 event since the 2021 Miami Open when she defeated Elisabetta
Cocciaretto in the first round.
World No. 9
Sakkari arrived in Guadalajara after a disappointing first-round exit at the US
Open against Rebeka Masarova (64th) and a quarter-final exit in San Diego,
where she lost in a third-set tiebreak to Emma Navarro (46th) with a score of
4-6, 6-0, 6-7(4).
The first
set of the match between Hunter and Sakkari saw the Greek player dominating,
winning 14 of the first 16 points and taking a 3-0 lead with a break in her
favor. The Australian improved her game and managed to hold her serve in the
next two games while threatening her opponent with a break point in the seventh
game.
Hunter once
again struggled with her serve in the eighth game and conceded the first set to
Sakkari by a score of 6-2. Sakkari won 65% of the contested points and
capitalized on Hunter's service deficiencies, winning 85% of the points played
with her opponent's second serve.
Former
world No. 3 couldn't maintain her momentum at the start of the second set and
quickly dropped her serve to her opponent, who held her serve without major
issues until 4-3, when Sakkari secured another break to level the score.
The second
seed didn't waver under pressure and ultimately secured another break and the
victory with a score of 6-2, 6-4. In the round of 16, she will face Camila
Giorgi, who defeated Mayar Sherif (14th seed) and Cristina Bucsa, both in
straight sets.
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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