(Tennis news) The most experienced player in the draw, Karolina Pliskova exited in the group stage for the first since 2016 at Akron WTA Finals Guadalajara. Pliskova turned the match around against Barbora Krejčíková who also packed her bags as she returned without a win at the event. Barbora was off to a flying start in the opening set as she bagled Pliskova. In the second set, Barbora was leading 4-2 until Pliskova took the next four games without stumbling in between as the match went for a decider.
In the final set, Pliskova saved break points in the fifth and ninth game as both of them were holding their serve. Barbora missed crucial shots in the tenth game which handed Pliskova three match points and one final error from Barbora ended the match. Pliskova defeated Barbora 0-6, 6-4, 6-4.
Garbine Muguruza is now the only experienced player left in the draw as she beat the player in from Anett Kontaveit. Muguruza broke Kontaveit in the opening game as she missed a backhand at the net, Muguruza then maintained a two game lead but Kontaveit came back as she had a breakpoint to level the score 5-4 but could not do so as Muguruza took the set. In the second set, Muguruza took the first two games and maintained the lead till the end as she snapped a 12 match winning streak of Kontaveit and sealed a semifinal spot. Muguruza defeated Kontaveit 6-4, 6-4.
Paula Badosa also booked her semifinal spot with a win over Maria Sakkari. Badosa kept the rallies going as Sakkari went in for the winner in most of them which resulted in 49 errors by Sakkari. Badosa on the other hand had fewer winners than her opponent but had half the unforced errors as she picked up her second straight victory. The first set was as competitive as it could be as a tie breaker also seemed to go long but Badosa this time took the risk and went in for the shots. Badosa won the first four points and then closed out the set with a cross court forehand winner.
In the second set, two breaks in the first four games was all Badosa needed as she did not let the lead go to waste. Badosa kept taking more chances as she booked her place in the last four with a backhand winner. Badosa defeated Sakkari 7-6(7-4), 6-4.
Aryna Sabalenka kept her semifinal chances alive as she beat Iga Swatiek in a close three setter. Iga Swatiek joined Barbora and Pliskova in confirming their exit out of the semifinal race as she suffered her second loss in a row. Swatiek took the first set as Sabalenka gave away three break points which then resulted in four straight games as Swatiek won the set. In the second set, Sabalenka took five consecutive games as Swatiek struggled to defend her service as it called for a final set.
In the third set, both the players were holding their serve as Swatiek was two points away from winning the match at 5-4 but Sabalenka dived in to take the game and broke Swatiek in the final game as she will hope to join Badosa in the semifinals. Sabalenka defeated Swatiek 2-6, 6-2, 7-5.
In doubles, Desirae Krawczyk and Alexa Guarachi overcame a disastrous first set to defeat Sharon Fichman and Giuliana Olmos 0-6, 6-3, 11-9. Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova booked their semifinal place by defeating Hsieh Su-Wei and Elise Mertens 6-3, 6-1.
Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Demi Schuurs also booked their semifinal spot by registering a victory over Darija Jurak and Andreja Klepac. Although the seventh seeded pair of Jurak and Klepac took the second set to level the match, the third set was a complete domination of Nicole and Schhurs. Nicole and Schhurs defeated Jurak and Klepac 6-4, 3-6, 10-2.
Samnatha Stosur and Zhang Shuai departed with a win in their last match against Shuko Aoyama and Ena Shibahara who were the first ones to qualify for the semifinal. Stosur and Shuai defeated Shuko and Shibahara 4-6, 6-3, 10-7.
Also read: Carlos Alcaraz closes out season by winning Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals title
