In a thrilling semifinal match at the BNP Paribas Open, Maria Sakkari emerged victorious over Coco Gauff in a hard-fought battle that went to three sets. Sakkari secured her spot in the final after defeating Gauff 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-2, despite facing challenges along the way.
Sakkari will now face the top-ranked Iga Swiatek in the final showdown on Sunday. Swiatek showcased her dominance in the semifinals by defeating Marta Kostyuk 6-2, 6-1, further solidifying her impressive 19-2 record this year.
Swiatek, who has won three out of five meetings against Sakkari, is poised to deliver an exciting final match at the prestigious tournament.
The semifinal match between Gauff and Sakkari was not without its share of drama, with delays due to rain interrupting the intense competition. Sakkari initially held a 5-2 lead in the second set, only for Gauff to mount a comeback and force a tiebreaker after saving three match points.
Ultimately, Sakkari's resilience paid off as she secured a decisive victory in the third set, winning 6-2. With a forehand winner sealing the deal, Sakkari advanced to the final, setting the stage for a thrilling showdown against Swiatek.
On the men's doubles side, Nikola Mektic of Croatia and Wesley Koolhof of the Netherlands clinched the title by defeating Marcel Granollers of Spain and Horacio Zeballos of Argentina in a closely contested final match.
With a prize money of $447,300 split between the winning pair, the men's doubles final added another exciting chapter to the prestigious BNP Paribas Open tournament.
As the anticipation builds for the final matches, tennis fans around the world eagerly await the clash between Sakkari and Swiatek, as well as celebrate the impressive performances of the doubles champions.
