Top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka rallied to defeat Poland’s Iga Swiatek and Paula Badosa of Spain upended Maria Sakkari on Saturday at the WTA Finals at Guadalajara, Mexico.
Sabalenka of Belarus needed two hours, 18 minutes to oust Swiatek 2-6, 6-2, 7-5. She’ll face Sakkari in the final round-robin contest Monday for the right to advance to the semifinals, where Badosa awaits.
Swiatek was eliminated.
Sabalenka used eight aces to down Swiatek. She won 83 percent of her first serves.
Badosa needed a little more than two hours to defeat Sakkari 7-6 (4), 6-4.
“I think it was quite a tough match,” Badosa said afterward. “I served well, I fight for every point. I knew it was going to be a battle against Maria. I think I stayed aggressive. I was moving well. When you win these kinds of matches, I think you have to do a little bit of everything well. I think the key was a little bit in the important moments, I was quite brave and I played very good.”
Badosa finished with 23 winners, two less than Sakkari’s 25. However, Badosa had just 22 unforced errors compared to 49 for Sakkari.
–Field Level Media
