Mutua Madrid Open, Madrid, Spain, 2023 - WTA 1000

[MargaretMcAleer]

Sakkari was lucky to win that game saved 4 BPs, including DFs, Saba should have broken

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Over pressing Saba now, Sakkari with 2 BPs
2 good serves from Saba, including a kick serve, which is soo great on clay saves 2 BPs
Good inside out fh from Saba and she holds 4-3

 

[tented]

Relatively easy hold for Saba. Sakkari will serve at 4-5 to stay in the 1st.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

SP for Saba

 

[tented]

SP for Saba

She converts!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Well done Saba 64 1st set

Sakkari W 7 UFE 13 Saba W 14 UFE 14

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Great angle return from Sakkari bringing up BP
Saba responds with a great serve
Saba holds.She will have no voice left after this match
I wish Tom Hill would shut up, if Sakkari cannot work out tactics on court by herself by now she should not be playing at this level, she forever looks over to him, it is like she is being 'spoon fed'.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Saba with 3 BPs
Broken to love
Saba leads 3-1
Now Tom Hill is giving hand signals to Sakkari LOL!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

A pair of Aces for Saba, consolidates the break and leads 4-1

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Shift of momentum in this match, Sakkari's serve off and she is jumping back off the baseline more concerned about the return of Saba

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Great return from Saba and she breaks and will serve for the match at 5-1

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

MP for Saba

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Well done Saba defeating Sakkari 64 61 too good today for Sakkari
Sabalenka ,2021 champion in Madrid awaits the winner of Swiatek and Kudermetova.
Sabalenka is bidding for a 5th WTA1000 career title in her 6 appearance in a final at this level and her 3rd title of 2023

 

[tossip]

Sakkhari has mental block when she reaches the semis of an event.I was so disappointed when she lost in the semis at RG.She kinda freezes for some reason..

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Sakkhari has mental block when she reaches the semis of an event.I was so disappointed when she lost in the semis at RG.She kinda freezes for some reason..

She has always frozen under pressure at SF events, or finals, she relies on looking at her coach too much, he is in her ear all the time, if she cannot work out tactics on court for herself she will never progress, probably one of the main reasons she has only won 1 title in her career, thus far,she relies too much on her physical game.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Good timing just came back from a run
Iga and Veronika on court
Iga to serve first

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Iga serving for the 1st set 5-1
Veronika needs to stay aggressive and get more depth on her shots consistently against Iga
Iga 1st set 61
( have to take a phone call from work)

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Swiatek d Kudermetova 61 61, not contest at all, Iga too good, she will play Sabalenka in the final!
First Madrid final for Iga
9-0 on the clay in 2023
On this faster surface in Madrid, if Saba can keep her margins intact she has a good chance of defeating Iga in the final

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Swiatek improves to 53-7 lifetime on clay with her win in the SF at Madrid, 18-3 against the Top 20 on this surface
Iga will be bidding for her 7th title on clay and her 14th title overall

 

[tented]