Press releases

12 Jan 2021

Sabalenka ousts Sakkari to reach Abu Dhabi final

Photo courtesy of Jimmie48

MINSK, 12 January (BelTA) – Belarus’ world number 10 Aryna Sabalenka charged past world number 22 Maria Sakkari of Greece, 6-3, 6-2, to reach the final of the Abu Dhabi WTA Women’s Tennis Open, BelTA has learned.

In the final on 13 January the Belarusian will face either world number 99 Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine or world number 46 Veronika Kudermetova of Russia.

On her way to the final Aryna Sabalenka took a 7-6(5), 6-2 win over Slovenia’s Polona Hercog (World No.49), beat Australia's world number 68 Ajla Tomljanovic 7-5, 6-4. In the round of Last 16 the Belarusian defeated world number 31 Ons Jabeur of Tunisia 6-2, 6-4 and secured a 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 win over Kazakhstan’s world number 19 Elena Rybakina in the quarterfinal.

After the tournament in the UAE the world’s leading players will travel to Melbourne to get ready for the Australian Open. The Grand Slam opening tournament is due to take place at the Melbourne Park on 8-21 February.