Garcia dominates Sakkari to reach WTA Finals title match / Photo: © GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP
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Garcia dominates Sakkari to reach WTA Finals title match
Caroline Garcia stormed into the title match at the elite WTA Finals on Sunday with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Maria Sakkari.
Eighth-ranked Garcia, back in the season-ending event for the first time since 2017 when she fell in the semi-finals, will face either world number one Iga Swiatek or seventh-ranked Aryna Sabalenka for the title.
The 29-year-old from France, who has powered up the rankings with three titles this season, put on a clinic against her fifth-ranked Greek opponent, wrapping up the win in 75 minutes.
Garcia gained the decisive break in the first for a 4-2 lead and closed out the set with a love game, then powered to a 4-0 lead in the second.
Garcia pounced on a Sakkari second serve to gain a second break of the set and a 3-0 lead.
She came up with an ace and an unreturnable serve to erase an early deficit in the next game before her netted forehand gave Sakkari a break point.
Once again, Garcia's serve made the difference as she produced a service winner, another ace and another unreturnable serve.
Garcia's first double fault of the match gave Sakkari a break point in the sixth game, but Garcia responded with an ace and grabbed a 5-1 lead with a stinging backhand that kissed the sideline.
Sakkari held to force Garcia to serve it out, and she polished it off on her second match point when Sakkari sent a service return into the net.
Garcia, who could only kneel to catch her breath after a thrilling three-set win over Daria Kasatkina on Saturday to capture the last semi-final spot, had plenty of energy for a skipping, leaping celebration on the court at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth.
The event was moved to Texas due to continuing pandemic-related issues with the Chinese city of Shenzhen, which was initially due to host, as well as the WTA's dispute with China over the status of player Peng Shuai.
(L.Møller--DTZ)
