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After two weeks of thrilling action, the ultimate day is just a night away for Mari Sakkari who will be playing her fifth final on Sunday. In the semifinals, Sakkari played with her utmost strength to bring the best out of her Spanish counterpart, Paula Badosa. It was never going to be a walk in the park for the Greek against Badosa who has a heavy game compared to other players.
Sakkari was well aware of what it would take and she gave it all. As a result, she defeated Badosa 6-2, 4-6, 6-1 to set herself against Iga Swiatek for the final showdown. She was more than satisfied and had to fight tears pouting from her lit eyes. “I worked my entire life to get to these late stages of the tournaments,” an emotional Sakkari said on court after her win. “I know it looks maybe silly to someone – it’s not like I won the tournament, I’m in the final – but it means a lot to me.”
On the other hand, third seed Iga Swiatek got the best out of 2015 champion Simona Halep as she beat the Romanian in straight sets. In a match that lasted for one hour and 49 minutes, Swiatek beat Halep 7-6(6), 6-4. And now the Polish will face Maria Sakkari in the summit clash on Sunday.
With the final game just a few hours away, let's look at the details.
Date: 20 March 2022.
Tournament: BNP Paribas Open.
Round: Final.
Venue: Indian Wells, USA.
Category: WTA 1000.
Surface: Hardcourt.
Prize money: $8,369,455.
Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Amazon Prime Video.
Sakkari vs Swiatek Head-to-Head
The Greek star leads Iga Swiatek 3-1 when it comes to head-to-head record between the two. Sakkari had won all three games last year but Swiatek ended the jinx at Qatar Open where she defeated Sakkari in straight sets of 6-4, 6-3.