Sakkari downs world number six Kvitova in Cincinnati

Greece’s Maria Sakkari downs world number six Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic 6/4, 2/6, 6/3, in the round of 32 of the Cincinnati Masters.

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In a matchup between Sakkari, world number 33 and Kvitova, the sixth seed in the tournament, it was a tight battle with both players being broken regularly. Sakkari outlasted Kvitova who made a total of 53 unforced errors and hit nine double faults in the encounter, to claim her fourth top-10 win in 2019 and her sixth career victory against a top-10 opponent. This was also Sakkari’s second win over the Czech, having previously beaten her earlier this year in Rome.

Sakkari claimed the first set, breaking Kvitova’s serve at 5/4 to claim the first set six games to four. However, Kvitova upped her level in the second set, breaking Sakkari’s serve in the first game of the set. Kvitova again broke Sakkari in the sixth game, and ultimately took the set 2/6.

Momentum was going against Sakkari early in the third set where she was broken in the third service game of the deciding set. However, the Greek immediately broke back to level the match at 2/2. Sakkari again broke Kvitova to claim a 5/3 advantage, before serving the match out to secure the victory in front of a vocal crowd on Grandstand court.

Sakkari comfortably defeated Italian Camila Giorgi in the round of 64, 6/3, 6/0 to advance to play Kvitova. Sakkari will now either play Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka or China’s Saisai Zheng in the round of 16.

by Athan Stylos

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