WTA Finals Semifinal Preview: Sakkari V Kontaveit

Maria Sakkari plays Annett Kontaveit at the end of an exceptional year for the both of them in this semifinal, with 330 WTA points on the line.

Both players are in their first WTA finals, and both at their best for this event.

This pair have played each other 11 times, with Sakkari holding the edge at 6-5. 

They have played each other four times this year with a 2-2 record, first in Melbourne in the semifinal, where Kontaveit took the victory 2-6, 6-3, 11-9. They played again on clay at the Madrid 1000, Sakkari won 6-3, 6-1. Their third encounter was at the Olympics, Sakkari won again 7-5, 6-2. 

Kontaveit took the victory at their last meeting in the final of the Ostrava open 6-2, 7-5, while on her most recent surge of form.

Maria Sakkari (4)

-26 years old

-Greece

-No titles this year

-Two grand slam semifinals at Roland Garros and the US Open

-Good form

-Fourth seed

-Round Robin record of 2-1 matches, 4-3 sets, 41-35 games

-Placed second in her group

-Career high of rank six

-Currently rank six

-Earned 625 WTA points so far

Sakkari uses her physicality and willpower to win tough points. She beat Sabalenka and Swiatek, but failed to defeat Badosa.

Anett Kontaveit (8)

-25 years old

-Estonia

-Moscow (500) Ostrava (500) Transylvania (250) Cleveland (250)

Pushed hard in the last part of the season to make the tour finals, winning Moscow and Transylvania just before this tournament.

-Super form

-Eighth seed

-Round Robin record of 2-1 matches, 4-2 sets, 32-23 games

-Placed first in her group

-Career high of rank eight 

-Currently rank eight

-Earned 625 WTA points so far

Kontaveit is an aggressive player with great variety and shotmaking. She defeated Krejcikova and Pliskova, but lost to Muguruza.

Summary

The pair have similar records in the round robin, but Sakkari played more tennis to get to the semifinals, perhaps due to her playstyle. Sakkari has been more consistent, but Kontaveit seems to have the higher peak. 

The Estonian is in stunning form after an incredible four titles this year, four titles more than Sakkari, who got her points from her deep grand slam runs. Kontaveit will be more on the attack and Sakkari more on the defence. 

Both are playing the best tennis they have ever played, but it’s going to be hard for Sakkari to deny Kontaveit on her current streak.