Maria Sakkari (Greece) defeated the third-seeded Cori Coco Gauff (USA) to reach the final of the WTA 1000 Indian Wells Open. The Greek tennis player won the semi-final match by 2-1 (6:4, 6:7, 6:2) in 2:45 hours of play.
The match started equally with both players winning their serve games and did not give any breakpoint to the opponent. The first breakpoint came for Maria Sakkari in the 9th game at 0-40. Although Cori Coco Gauff saved all three breakpoints, the Greek tennis player reached another two and succeeded in scoring the second to win the game and took a lead by 5:4. At her serve, Maria Sakkari won the next game “on 30” and won the set by 6:4.
Maria Sakkari started strongly the second set with a break advance for 3:1 and even broke again for 5:2 and served for the match, but Cori Coco Gauff stayed in the match by returned the break and even equalized to 5:5 after saving three match points of her Greek opponent. Both exchanged a game before entering in a tiebreak, which the American tennis talent won by 7-5.
Cori Coco Gauff started the third set with a break, but Maria Sakkari returned it immediately and even took a lead with another one in her favor for 4:1. Another break in the 8th game for 6:2 brought her the victory and thus she qualified for the final.
In the final, Maria Sakkari will face the world’s number one and the top-seeded Iga Swiatek (Poland).
