Indian Wells: Another three-set battle for Sakkari, beats Pliskova

Maria Sakkari won against Karolina Pliskova 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 on Tuesday. She’ll face the winner of the match between Czech Petra Kvitova, the No 15 seed, and American Jessica Pegula, the No 3 seed, in the next round

Mar 12, 2023; Indian Wells, CA, USA; Maria Sakkari (GRE) hits a serve as she defeated Anhelina Kalinina (UKR) in 3 sets in her fourth round match during the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. (AI/Reuters/Panoramic)

Tennis Majors

March 14, 2023

BNP Paribas Open •Round of 16 • completed

See draw

M. SakkarivsK. Pliskova

Greek Maria Sakkari, the No 7 seed, beat Czech Karolina Pliskova, the No 17 seed, 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 to reach the last 8 of the Indian Wells at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on Tuesday.

Sakkari, ranked No 7, will play the winner of the match between Czech Petra Kvitova, the No 15 seed, and American Jessica Pegula, the No 3 seed, next.

There's something about Maria at the @BNPPARIBASOPEN 👏

No. 7 seed @mariasakkari returns to the Indian Wells last eight with a solid 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 win over Pliskova!#TennisParadise pic.twitter.com/M1U6ctbnS4
— wta (@WTA) March 14, 2023

It was yet another gritty three-setter for Sakkari, who won against American Shelby Rogers (2-6, 6-4, 6-0) and edged out Ukrainian Anhelina Kalinina, the No 27 seed (3-6, 6-2, 6-4) in the previous rounds of the Indian Wells tournament.

But she stayed strong – and it was the serve of Pliskova, usually such a powerful weapon, that faded on match point as she failed to get the ball over the net and handed victory to her opponent.

Earlier in the tournament, Pliskova, ranked No 17, edged out Russian Anna Kalinskaya (2-6, 6-0, 6-4) and defeated Russian Veronika Kudermetova, the No 11 seed (6-1, 7-5).

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