Maria Sakkari defeats Dolehide, 7-5, 6-3 to win her first ever WTA 1000 title in Guadalajara

Maria Sakkari made history for Greek tennis by defeating Caroline Dolehide 2-0 in the Guadalajara Open Akron final. This victory marked the first time a Greek tennis player has won a WTA 1000 title, and it was the greatest title of Sakkari’s career. In her beloved Guadalajara, Sakkari ended her “curse” of the finals and secured her first title since 2019.

In the final match, Sakkari, 28 years old, defeated Dolehide 7-5, 6-3, completing a perfect week in Guadalajara where she didn’t drop a single set in five matches. This victory marked the second title of her career on the WTA Tour, with her previous title coming in the 250 event in Rabat in 2019. Sakkari now joins a special group of players who have won a WTA 1000 title.

Not only did Sakkari secure the title, but she also took a significant step towards qualifying for her third consecutive WTA Finals. The finals will be held in Cancun, Mexico, and Sakkari’s victory will boost her ranking from No. 16 to No. 9 in the Race, bringing her closer to the top eight by 300 points.

Additionally, Sakkari is set to complete two years of consecutive presence in the WTA Top 10 next week. She will rise from No. 9 to No. 6 in the world rankings, celebrating her accomplishment in style. Sakkari faced the threat of dropping out of the top 10 this week as she had to defend points from her run to last year’s final in Guadalajara. However, not only did she defend those points, but she went even further by claiming the title.

Throughout the final, Sakkari displayed her dominance on the court and did not buckle under the pressure from the favored Dolehide. Despite Dolehide’s strong tournament performance and having nothing to lose, Sakkari maintained her composure and raised her level of play at crucial moments. In the first set, Sakkari rallied to win the final three games and claim a 7-5 victory.

In the second set, Sakkari fought off a break point at 1-2 to avoid losing her serve. She then broke Dolehide’s serve to take a 3-2 lead, firmly in control of the match. Sakkari continued to dictate the game and had a break point for a 5-2 lead in the seventh game. Despite Dolehide reducing the deficit to 4-3, Sakkari ultimately secured a double break in the ninth game to win the set 6-3. This victory, the sweetest of her career, was achieved after 1 hour and 43 minutes of intense competition.