Linz
Sakkari facing unfinished business at Linz
Maria Sakkari has returned to the scene of unfinished WTA business four years ago, playing as top seed this week in upper Austria.
The seventh-ranked Greek who disappointingly exited in the Australian Open third round, is back at the 250 event she was to have played as top seed four years ago.
But her pre-tourney withdrawal gave a chance to untried American teen Coco Gauff, a 15-year-old lucky loser from qualifying rounds who went onto win the first title of her career, beating 2017 Roland Garros winner Jelena Ostapenko.
Sakkari is ready to make good on her top seeding at the Design Centre venue in the central city as she starts in the first round against Spain’s Nuria Parrizas Diaz.
“Being injured (wrist) wasn’t ideal for me at the time because I was out for a couple of months – at the same time, it happens to everyone.
“I’m just very excited ahead of my debut here. I came all the way here in 2019, but in the end, I didn’t play because of my wrist injury. But now I’m healthy.”
Sakkari is already getting into the local spirit, taking her first of some traditional cuisine at the weekend.
“I had a great dinner at a traditional Austrian restaurant. It’s very important when you go to new places that you try and see the culture of the city and the country.
“I’ve now had a schnitzel and it was great.”
Sakkari leads a field where 17th-ranked Ekaaterina Alexandrova is seeded second.
“Being the top seed is something I’ve got a bit used to now,” sakkari said. “I want to achieve here what everybody wants to do – just leave the tournament with the trophy.
“That’s my goal but at the same time it’s a very tough WTA 250. It doesn’t mean that because I’m the No. 1 seed that I have to win, or that I’m going to win.
“There are some very good players right from the first round and my first match is a real challenge.”
Iga Swiatek moved to within a pair of wins in her quest for four titles in a row at the WTA Qatar tournament as the five-time grand Slam champion defeated Elena Rybakina 6-2, 7-5 on Thursday.
Former world No. 1 Swiatek has been dominant in the Gulf and now needs victories in the semis and final to collect her fourth trophy at the event.
The Pole earned her 15th straight win at the tournament, fighting from 4-2 down in the second set, in a comeback to complete her quarter-final success.
The win in 96 minutes matched a defeat of 2022 Wimbledon winner Rybakina at last month’s United Cup and leaves the pair locked at 4-all in their series.
World No. 5 Jessica Pegula, losing finalist to Swiatek here two years ago, went down in an upset loss to Ekaterina Alexandrova 4-6, 6-1, 6-1 with the winner booking her third career semi-final at the elite 1000-level series.
Alexandrova is fresh from a title in Linz and has now won her last eight matches.
She knocked out world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka here in the second round and had to fight from a set down to overcome sixth seed Pegula.
Main photo:- Iga Swiatek on her way to Qatar semi finals – by WTATennis.com
Chronic complainers Iga Swiatek and the ATP’s Carlos Alcaraz have drawn fire from a fellow pro, with Anastasia Potapova calling the pair of former No. 1’s “soft and spoiled.”
World No. 32 Potapova unleashed at last week’s WTA event in Austria after the consistent laments from the top players on crowded calendars on their respective Tours.
Spain’s Alcaraz has done himself no favours by cramming in as many big-money off-season exhibitions as possible while voicing his concerns about the crowded ATP schedule; he also said that too many player injuries are occurring as a result of the calendar..
Swiatek has been more discreet but still has her gripes. She blew off steam last summer before the US Open, saying:
“Our calendar is crazy, probably the toughest one in sports.. most sports have four months off, sometimes even six.
“It’s getting more crazy every year, which is scary.”
Potapova told Russian media in a YouTube interview: “Some players have become too soft and spoiled.
“There are things that make the tour more difficult, but on the other hand, I also had moments when I wasn’t happy with my life when I felt like I couldn’t stay on tour anymore.
“Sometimes you forget where you came from. We really live in our own world and it really is tough at times, but any professional sport is tough.
“It’s a lot of pressure. Both mental and physical, it’s tough, but that’s not the worst life a person can have.”
Main photo:- Anastasia Potapova – WTAtennis.com
Jelena Ostapenko continued her runaway start in 2024 as the Latvian claimed her second title in a month with victory on Sunday at the WTA event in Linz.
The Austrian triumph for the 2017 Roland Garros champion came against Ekaterina Alexandrova, 6-2, 6-3 in 71 minutes.
Ostapenko lifted the Adelaide trophy on the day before the start of the Australian Open and has won two titles in a season for the first time since 2017 when she followed up her Paris Grand Slam honours with the Seoul title.
Alexandrova finished runner-up here six years ago; Ostapenko now owns eight career trophies after winning a re-run of January’s Adelaide semi-finals..
The winner now stands an impressive 13-2 on the season, she last played Linz in Upper Austria near the Czech border in 2019, finishing runner-up to precocious teen Coco Gauff, who won the title as a lucky loser from qualifying who entered the field thanks to Maria Sharapova’s pullout.
Main photo:- Jelena Ostapenkpo celebrates by Alexander Scheurer
Sabalenka hoping to turn her luck in Stuttgart
Rune rises to the occasion with defeat of Alcaraz
Zverev grabs a birthday gift with third Munich title
-
Dubai3 weeks agoKasatkina confirms move to Australia
-
ATP4 weeks agoHenman joins Team Europe as Noah’s assistant
-
ATP4 weeks agoDimitrov casts his spell on Khachanov
-
Rouen5 days agoDart apologizes for “stinky” opponent jibe
-
Miami Open4 weeks agoPaolini powers past Osaka in Miami
-
ATP3 weeks agoBadosa aims for back injury return by Madrid
-
Miami Open4 weeks agoRaducanu set for huge rankings boost after Miami Open win
-
Miami Open4 weeks agoPhilippine teen swats Swiatek in Miami