Sakkari Avoids Choke, Sets Indian Wells Final Rematch With Swiatek

Maria Sakkari nearly did it again, losing from the brink of victory.

With a new coach this week at Indian Wells, Sakkari was well on her way to a huge final in desert. Up 6-4 and serving 5-2, though, the nerves and doubts crept back in. Coco Gauff would have the scant remaining crowd — nearly all had left following the latest rain delay after the first set.

Gauff would break, serve, and then save three match points to level. From 2-5 down, the 20-year-old would win four straight games and eventually take the breaker to force the third.

In the decider, Gauff would break again to start and it looked like Sakkari was done. But the Greek rose up, broke back and then saved more break chances eventually taking one of her biggest and best wins in years.

“I knew from the beginning it was going to be very tough,” Sakkari said. “You know, a lot of things happened today. Rain delays, obviously, that second set could have been different. But I was thinking of that finish line too much, and then I was just thinking too much on how to close out the match. That didn’t really help me. It freaked me out a little bit. I was too nervous.

“But, you know, I’m very proud of myself that I kept my nerves, and then I just fought hard in that third set.”

The loss snapped Gauff’s 20-match win streak in the U.S. Earlier in the match she had been treated for nausea.

Sakkari sets a second final in the desert against Iga Swiatek. The two met in 2022 with Swiatek rolling in straight sets.

Swiatek advanced cruising past Marta Kostyuk 6-2, 6-1.

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