Sabalenka, Sakkari Rally To Reach Madrid Masters SF; Swiatek, Pegula Wed.

by Staff | May 2nd, 2023, 6:28 pm
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The quarterfinals at the Madrid Masters began on Tuesday in the women’s draw with both bottom half favorites advancing from a set down.

Former champion Aryna Sabalenka rallied from a set down to defeat the powerful Egyptian Mayar Sherif 2-6, 6-2, 6-1.

Sabalenka tossed in eight doubles and won just 41% on second serves, but broke Sharif six times. Sabalenka lost just seven points on serve in the final set.


Sherif was up a set and a break 2-1 before dropping 11 of the last 12 games!

“I just couldn’t adjust for her game, and I was really going crazy,” Sabalenka said the WTA. “I’m really happy that I was able to stop myself, to take a little breath and just like start everything from the beginning. Good that I was keep fighting for every point no matter what the second set. And then in the third set I didn’t give her much chances to play her game.

“I think I’m really mentally strong. I had so many matches like that when I was down in the score or when I was down with the match points and I was coming back.”

In the night cap, 9th-seeded Maria Sakkari dismissed No. 31 Irina-Camelia Begu 6-7(3-7), 6-4, 6-2. Sakkari finished eight of 21 on break chances en route to her very first Madrid Masters semifinal, and eighth at the 1000 level.

Ahead tomorrow, No. 1 Iga Swiatek returns to battle No. 27 Petra Martic. Swiatek won their only previous meeting at Indian Wells in 2021.

And 2022 finalist Jessica Pegula gets No. 12 Veronika Kudermetova in a first-time tour-level contest.


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