WTA Finals: Sakkari in brutal form as Swiatek struggles in Guadalajara

It
was
Sakkari’s
eighth
win
over
a
top-10
opponent
this
season,
the
most
of
any
player
on
the
WTA
Tour,
while
the
victory
took
her
to
3-0
against
Swiatek
this
year.

Sakkari,
with
her
trademark
intensity
and
feistiness,
appeared
to
adjust
to
the
conditions
and
altitude
of
Guadalajara
much
better
than
her
opponent,
who
looked
lethargic
during
the
first
set.

This
was
particularly
evident
in
the
20-year-old’s
second
service
game,
as
Sakkari
converted
the
second
of
her
break
points
to
get
the
early
advantage.

Locked
In
????

????????

@mariasakkari
defeats
Swiatek
in
straight
sets
6-2,
6-4.

#AKRONWTAFinals
pic.twitter.com/h9h8o2Enlt

—
wta
(@WTA)

November
11,
2021

Swiatek
showed
the
occasional
flash
of
quality,
such
as
an
awesome
out-of-the-blue
cross-court
forehand
in
the
fifth
game,
but
she
soon
found
herself
5-2
down
as
Sakkari
broke
to
love,
the
decisive
point
gifted
to
her
by
a
sloppy
volley
at
the
net
that
the
Pole
inexplicably
put
beyond
the
sideline.

Sakkari
quickly
wrapped
up
the
set
but
Swiatek
was
able
to
dig
a
bit
deeper
in
the
second,
showing
great
determination
to
eventually
hold
serve
during
the
10-minute
third
game.

But
her
body
language
at
the
change
was
hardly
indicative
of
a
player
convinced
she
could
level
the
match,
as
she
sat
there
with
a
towel
draped
over
her
from
head
to
knees.

Swiatek
held
out
for
another
few
games
but
Sakkari
got
the
decisive
break
to
go
4-3
up,
and
the
match
ultimately
went
with
serve
from
there.

Sakkari
finished
her
opponent
off
by
serving
to
love,
with
a
tearful
Swiatek
given
a
code
violation
for
turning
her
back
as
she
attempted
to
regain
her
composure
before
facing
triple
match
point,
ultimately
putting
her
return
into
the
net.

8
–
Maria

#Sakkari
is
now
the
player
with
the
most
wins
(8)
against
top-10
opponents
this
season.
Lionhearted.#WTAFinals
#WTAFinalsGdl
pic.twitter.com/hW8jcyQM5h

—
OptaAce
(@OptaAce)

November
11,
2021

WINNERS/UNFORCED
ERRORS

Sakkari
–
15/22

Swiatek
–
8/29

ACES/DOUBLE
FAULTS

Sakkari
–
2/5

Swiatek
–
2/6

BREAK
POINTS
WON

Sakkari
–
3/8

Swiatek
–
0/2