Sakkari outlasts Gauff, will face Swiatek in Indian Wells final

Maria Sakkari and Coco Gauff played much longer into the night than anyone could have expected on Friday.

First, there was a delay of almost two hours — this time due to rain instead of a bee invasion — early in the second set. Second, Sakkari could not convert any of three match points that would have given her a routine victory in straight sets.

Routine is the opposite of what this match turned out to be, however. Sakkari ended up losing the second set but recovered in the third to outlast Gauff 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-2 in a thrilling Indian Wells semi-final. The Greek booked a spot alongside Iga Swiatek in Sunday’s championship match after two hours and 41 minutes of play.

Sakkari, SWIAtek set for rematch of 2022 final

Earlier in the tournament Sakkari ousted Russian Diana Shnaider (5-7, 6-4, 6-0), Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia, the No 20 seed (6-3, 6-4), Frenchwoman Diane Parry (6-2, 3-6, 6-3) and American Emma Navarro, the No 23 seed (5-7, 6-2, 6-4).

The world No 9 will now face Swiatek for the first time since they met at this same Indian Wells event in 2022 — also in the final. Swiatek won that encounter 6-4, 6-1, but the top-ranked Pole still trails the head-to-head series 3-2.

Meanwhile, it is the end of the road in the desert for Gauff — who advanced to the semi-finals by beating Frenchwoman Clara Burel (2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4)), Italian Lucia Bronzetti (6-2, 7-6 (5)), Belgian Elise Mertens, the No 24 seed (6-0, 6-2) and China’s Yue Yuan (6-4, 6-3).

Indian Wells WTA 1000, other semi-final result (Indian Wells Tennis Garden, hard, USD 9.258.080):

• Iga Swiatek beat Marta Kostyuk (31): 6-2, 6-1
  

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