Sakkari Rolls Past Garcia, Returns To Guadalajara Final Against Surprise Dolehide

Maria Sakkari is back in the Guadalajara 1000 WTA final for a second straight year after cruising past fellow Top 20er Caroline Garcia 6-3, 6-0 Saturday in the semifinals.

“I said it the first day that I felt like this was the week,” Sakkari said to the WTA. “This is the place where I was going to overcome a lot of difficult obstacles and difficult emotions.

“I don’t want to go back to the US Open because that’s passed, but I’m just so happy to be back in the final and to get to stay until the end of the tournament. I couldn’t have asked for anything better this year.”

The 28-year-old second seed never dropped serve while breaking the Frenchwoman four times. She lost just four points on first serve in the first set, and just four points on second serve in the second set.

The Greek pulled away winning the seven games of the match to earn her second win over Garcia in five tries.

She advances to her 9th career final and looking for her second career title after 2019 Rabat.

“So mission complete, but we have one more to go. I’m going to have the same goal tomorrow. I’m going to come out here with a smile and enjoy my last day in Guadalajara for this season,” Sakkari added.

Caroline Dolehide kept her dream week going. The 25-year-old ranked No. 111 got over on countrywoman Sofia Kenin 7-5, 6-3 to reach her first tour-level final! And it comes at the 1000 level.

“Honestly, I’ve been so in the present, it feels amazing,” Dolehide said to the WTA. “I’m so excited for tomorrow, but I have doubles coming up. I’m really focused on that. Obviously, I’m really proud of myself, getting that win today because Sonia is not an easy player to get by.”g

Kenin had break leads early in both sets and the Australian Open champion missed on five chances to keep Dolehide from serving it out at 5-3 in the second.

“After being down a break in both sets, I found what was working and I stuck with it,” Dolehide said.

Dolehide becomes just the second player ranked outside the Top 100 to reach a WTA 1000 final since Svetlana Kuznetsova. She’ll move into the Top 50 with her final run.

Sakkari and Dolehide have never faced each other. The American is 0-4 against Top 10 players.

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