A relentless Maria Sakkari capped her good run by the round-robin stage of the WTA Finals with a 6-2 6-3 win over Ons Jabeur to achieve the semi-finals.
Sakkari broke twice for a 5-1 cushion en path to capturing the primary set, which meant Tunisian world No.2 Jabeur had no mathematical likelihood of advancing even when she had rallied again to victory.
The end result elevated group runner-up Aryna Sabalenka into the final 4.
In the second set, with Sakkari and Sabalenka already safely into the knockout stage, the Greek world No.5 broke early for a 3-1 lead and raced house from there to enhance to 3-0 within the group stage of the season-ending match.
“I’m trusting myself, I’m just fearless on the court and I am enjoying myself here,” Sakkari, who has not dropped at set in Fort Worth, mentioned throughout her on-court interview.
“There is no secret behind how I am playing but I think it was about time just to start playing good again and I am very happy that it’s actually happening here.”
By successful her group, Sakkari will face both Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia or Russian Daria Kasatkina within the semis whereas Sabalenka will face world No.1 Iga Swiatek.
In the day’s first match, Belarusian world No.7 Sabalenka eradicated Jessica Pegula with a 6-3 7-5 victory to enhance to 2-1.
Sabalenka made a blistering begin, breaking Pegula to open the match and once more for a 5-2 lead.
World No.3 Pegula then fought off 4 set factors to interrupt straight again however Sabalenka broke to like within the subsequent sport to wrap up the set.
Pegula fell behind 2-0 within the second however fought again earlier than Sabalenka, at 3-3, delivered a love maintain after which got here again from 40-15 down for a crushing service break earlier than the top-ranked American returned the favour to increase the set.
But Sabalenka held to like for the third time within the set and fourth within the match for a 6-5 lead after which closed it out on her second match level when she ripped a backhand crosscourt winner.
“She’s an amazing player and she made me really work tonight,” mentioned Sabalenka.
“Just happy that I was really focused from the beginning to the end and I was able to finish this match in two sets.”
