(Madrid) World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka was the first to advance to the semi-finals of the WTA 1000 tournament in Madrid by overthrowing Egypt’s Mayar Sherif (59th) 2-6, 6-2, 6-1 on Tuesday.
World No. 9 Maria Sakkari joined him in defeating Romania’s Irina-Camelia Begu (35th) 6-7, (3/7), 6-4, 6-2 in nearly three hours in the evening.
The women’s semi-finals are scheduled for Thursday.
Confused in the first round by the disconcerting game of Sherif, for the first time in the quarter-finals in a tournament of this category, and who does not hesitate to multiply the (very) high balls, Sabalenka endeavored, successfully , to find his rhythm in the next two rounds. She won in two hours flat.
“I couldn’t adapt to his game and it was starting to drive me crazy. I’m really happy to have been able to settle down, breathe, and start all over again, let’s say, “said the Belarusian, crowned for the first time in Grand Slam at the Australian Open in January and finalist on clay in Stuttgart (Germany) about ten days ago.
Sabalenka has reached at least the quarter-finals in the seven tournaments (including Madrid) she has played in 2023.
Sakkari will aim for her fourth semi-final of the season, her best result so far.
