Simona Halep stopped in the quarters at the Kremlin Cup. The Romanian was defeated by Maria Sakkari after a superb match. Halep – Sakkari was 4-6, 4-6, but the Romanian was close to a sensational comeback.
Simona Halep – Maria Sakkari 4-6, 4-6, in the Kremlin Cup quarters
In the first set, Sakkari led 4-1, but Simona (18 WTA) showed signs that she can come back. She made 4-5 and was shooting hard for the tie, but even when the game was going for minutes to the Romanian, the 26-year-old Greek player took advantage of the stronger and more placed serve, and then scored with her forehand, her most powerful weapon hello
The last game of the first set was extremely spectacular and was also the longest of the match, lasting 10 minutes. On the Greek’s fourth set point, Halep played superbly, after taking the ball from the drop half volley.
- Simona Halep was champion in 2013 at the tournament in Moscow.
Simona Halep – Maria Sakkari 4-6, 4-6, in the Kremlin Cup quarters
But Maria’s forehand was again too strong and. However, unforced errors also made the difference. Halep had 20 and Sakkari had 11 in the first set. The second act started stormily and Sakkari was quickly 3-0 and then 5-1.
It was the moment when Halep again showed signs of a comeback. This time he also did 4-5, but he no longer had the necessary strength. Even though Simo saved a match point, Sakkari (7 WTA) also won the second act with the same score, 6-4, with a break from the third match point. Halep – Sakkari was 4-6, 4-6 after an hour and 44 minutes of play.
- The total prize money for the Moscow tournament is $565,530.
Sakkari was better with the second serve, and Halep with the first, and the Greek had twice as many direct winning balls (24-12), but also made more unprovoked errors (34-26).
Simona Halep won a check for 15,500 dollars and 100 WTA points, and her next tournament will be the Transylvania Open, next week, in Cluj-Napoca, broadcast live on Digi Sport.
LIVE VIDEO Simona Halep – Maria Sakkari 4-6, 4-6
UPDATE at 17:35: Simona Halep – Maria Sakkari 4-6, 4-6. On his own serve, Simo saves a match point. Sakkari constantly attacks and puts it short, but Simo reaches and scores with the backhand. But he fails to save the third match ball. Sakkari breaks and ends the match in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4, after one hour and 44 minutes.
