Young brigade dominate in Abu Dhabi
Sakkari, Kudermetova knock off top seed Kenin and Svitolina respectively
It was a day of upsets in the UAE capital as ninth seed Maria Sakkari knocked off top seed Sofia Kenin while Veronika Kudermetova accounted for second seed Elina Svitolina as the semi- final line- up was decided at the inaugural Abu Dhabi WTA Women’s Tennis Open yesterday.
At 25, the oldest in the last four stages, Sakkari reeled off the final 10 games to upset Kenin 2- 6, 6- 2, 6- 0, while Kudermetova, the 23- year- old from Kazan, Russia dug in deep to outplay Svitolina 5- 7, 6- 3, 7- 6 ( 3) in the day’s lastmatch.
Ukraine’s 18- year- old fastimproving teen Marta Kostyuk got the better of Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo 0- 6, 6- 1, 6- 4 after 22- year- old Aryna Sabalenka had weathered off sixth- seeded Elena Rybakina 6- 4, 4- 6, 6- 3 earlier in the day.
With a 0- 2 head- to- head record, Sakkari made lightwork of her American opponent. “I wouldn’t say these are the best two sets I have ever played. I have played better sets in other matches too. But today, I played good, really good, but thiswasn’t my best tennis,” Sakkari said.
Lot of confidence
“It gives me a lot of confidence beating such top players. Yesterday it was Garbine [ Muguruza] and today it is Sofia. This is important as there is Grand Slam coming and we are all waiting for that. This week I have got the chance to play with players I haven’t played,
and in general it gives me a lot of confidence,” she admitted after her crisp win in an hour and a half.
“Right now, I am super happy to travel to Australia with some good matches under the belt,” added the 25- year- old from Athens.
Earlier in the day, World No 10 Aryna Sabalenka extended her career- best winning streak to 13 matches and booked her spot in her third consecutive semi- final with a lop- sided 6- 4, 4- 6, 6- 3 win over No. 19 Elena Rybakina and set a meeting with Sakkari.