MY ACCOUNT
Two top-ten talents have booked a date in the Indian Wells Open semi-final after Maria Sakkari and Paula Badosa won their quarter-finals in straight sets.
First up, world number six Sakkari took on Ukrainian Elena Rybakina, prevailing 7-5 6-4.
Rybakina won the first three games of the match, working her way to an early 4-1 lead, before her Greek opponent rattled off six of the next seven games to claim the first set.
Sakkari again faced adversity early in the second set, coming back from 40-0 down in the second game to hold serve, before breaking the very next game to pinch the match-winning lead.
She will play world number seven Badosa after the Spaniard safely navigated the challenge of Russian Veronika Kudermetova 6-3 6-2.
The story of the game boiled down to the success of each woman’s second serve as Kudermetova struggled, winning only 29 per cent of hers (6 of 21).
Meanwhile, Badosa was rock-solid, converting nearly 70 per cent of her second serves (13 of 19) and not allowing Kudermetova a single break in the match
Sakkari and Badosa have only met once in the past, with Badosa winning the November meeting in Guadalajara 7-6 (7-4) 6-4.
The winner will earn a trip to the final to play the winner of the match between Iga Swiatek and Simona Halep.
