Maria Sakkari pushes Elina Svitolina out of Ostrava Open

 

Maria Sakkari clenches her fist during her second round match against Elina Svitolina at the J&T Banka Ostrava Open Wednesday. 

Elina Svitolina watched her short WTA season come to a surprising close at the J&T Banka Ostrava Open Wednesday. Maria Sakkari took control early in the match to win 6-3, 6-3 over the number one seed on center court at the Ostravar Arena. 

The two stars met for the third time carrying wins between each other. Their last battle in 2019 at San Jose saw them rage in a three-setter with Sakkari taking control after a heavy second set tiebreak. With the Ukrainian coming off a long run at the French Open, she would have things difficult right from the start against the Greek. Sakkari took down Kristyna Pliskova in straight sets with her eyes on a huge target standing in her way. 

Svitolina opened service but watched as Sakkari made her move at 30-all and took over the score for the break. She added a serve to love for good measure to take a 2-0 run on the Ukrainian. Svitolina was in trouble with her first serve, scoring two points from it through three games. An error handed the Greek a serve to love who won her ninth consecutive point on it. Svitolina put an end to that, gaining a footing into the fourth where she gained breakpoints to notch a win for herself. 

A better service hold for the top seed cut into Sakkari’s lead after five with the focus going on getting the set level. Despite her efforts, Sakkari denied the Ukrainian another break in the sixth scoring terrific drives. Svitolina stayed within reach of the Greek power hitter saving break points and forcing deuce to take the game under control. Sakkari responded with another good hold on the top seed and threw everything in to snatch another break from Svitolina who went down in 32 minutes on an error into the net. 

It was only the tenth committed by the world number five but it was enough as Sakkari carried a strong first serve. The Greek opened the second with a strong serve followed by Svitolina’s mirroring accomplishment in the second. The Ukrainian went after Sakkari for the break, getting a chance on an early breakpoint. The 25-year-old forced deuce but could convert the AD point. Svitolina went on to get her chance and clinch the break for the lead. 

Sakkari didn’t want her opponent getting comfortable on serve and made it a grueling battle in the fourth. Overcoming a 40-15 deficit, Sakkari forced deuce and went four breaks with Svitolina before a third break point leveled her at two-all. A second successive game allowed her to hold on serve after a break of deuce, hoping to regain her footing in the match. Svitolina knew she had to stay with Sakkari and did so to remain tied. 

The 25-year-old answered with a big run of winners that allowed her to serve up a shutout to Svitolina. Getting one herself was not in the cards as the Greek overcame a 40-15 to make it to deuce and get the breakpoint. With the 5-3 stand. Sakkari claimed victory with three match points before a final error from the top seed ended her season in 75 minutes.