Victoria Azarenka continued her quest for her first WTA title this season with a win over Coco Gauff to book her place in the semifinals of the Guadalajara Open. At the same time, Greece’s Maria Sakkari reached the last four to secure the final slot in the WTA Finals.
Azarenka used all her poise to break the stout defence and power of the American teenager who had already sealed her spot in the year-end competition. The Belarusian managed to convert 5 of the 13th breakpoint opportunities to win 7-6,4-6,6-3.
After her win over Gauff, Azarenka will take on her compatriot Jessica Pegula in the semifinal of the Guadalajara Open. It will be the 33-year-olds first semifinal since last October when she advanced to the final at Indian Wells.
Pegula, continued her strong showing in the competition with another impressive 6-2,6-2 win over Salone Stephens.
A quarter-finalist at the Australian Open, Roland Garros, and US Open Pegula, set the tone when by breaking Stephens immediately to open the first set and dropped only three of her first-serve points in the second frame for an easy win.
Meanwhile, Fourth-seeded Maria Sakkari overcame Veronika Kudermetova 6-1 5-7 6-4 to become the final player to qualify for the WTA Finals.
The Greek saved 14 of 15 break points to outlast her opponent to set a semifinal showdown with Marie Bouzkova.
Sakkari joins Iga Swiatek, Ons Jabeur, Jessica Pegula, Coco Gauff, Caroline Garcia, Aryna Sabalenka and Daria Kasatkina at the season finale.
