Greek tennis player, Maria Sakkari, has been defeated in the third round of the Tokyo Olympics by Ukrainian Elina Svitolina, 5-7 6-3 6-4.
As the match began, Svitolina got the first break of the match but in the seventh game of the set, Sakkari broke back, levelling things up.
The momentum was clearly with the Greek player who broke again when her opponent was serving in the following game. Things got interesting when Svitolina broke again to level things up at 5-5.
After over an hour of play, Sakkari finally broke the Ukrainian player for the third time in the set and consolidated the break, winning the set 7-5.
Ήττα για την Μαρία Σάκκαρη με 2-1 από τη Σβιτολίνα μετά από συναρπαστικό αγώνα και αποκλεισμός από το μονό. Συνεχίζει στο διπλό με τον Στέφανο Τσιτσιπά#TeamHellas
— Ηellenic Olympic Committee (@HellenicOlympic) July 27, 2021pic.twitter.com/myERySTLte
In the following set, Svitolina raised her level. In the fourth game of the set, the Greek was broken and this was enough for the Ukrainian to seal the set 6-3 in her favour.
As the final set began, both players were striking the ball with real perfection. Sakkari was broken at first but then she struck right back.
But Svitolina got the break in the seventh game, which helped her edge closer towards the finishing line. In the end, she served for the set, winning 6-4 in 50 minutes.
The Ukrainian will now face the winner of the match between Karolina Pliskova and Camila Giorgi.
Source: Essentially Sports.
