Greek Sakkari Boosts Chances of Making WTA Finals Cut

Maria Sakkari. (AFP)
Maria Sakkari. (AFP)
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Greek Sakkari Boosts Chances of Making WTA Finals Cut

Maria Sakkari. (AFP)
Maria Sakkari. (AFP)

Greek Maria Sakkari has climbed to fifth spot in the race to qualify for the season-ending WTA Finals in Mexico on the back of her consistent results, the women's tour has said.

The 26-year-old made five semi-finals during the 2021 season, including the French and the US Open majors, before finishing runner-up at the WTA 500 event in Ostrava, Czech Republic, last week.

After starting the year ranked 22nd, the Athens-born Sakkari also reached her career-best ranking of 10th when the women's rankings were updated on Monday.

"People don't realize how big it is for someone who at the age of 26 - not the age of 20 - cracks into the Top 10," Sakkari said in Ostrava. "When no one believed I could do it, myself and the people around me really believed in me.

"I don't want to sound like I achieved my goal, but it's a big step for my career and for every tennis player. Of course I see myself as higher, but we'll take it step-by-step."

Defending champion Ash Barty, world number two Aryna Sabalenka and French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova have all qualified for the WTA Finals, which will be held in November in Guadalajara, Mexico.

The Finals, contested by the world's top eight singles players and eight doubles teams, was moved out of China's Shenzhen after last year's event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wimbledon finalist Karolina Pliskova is currently fourth on the leaderboard followed by Sakkari, Iga Swiatek, Naomi Osaka and Garbine Muguruza.



Ivanov Beats American Qualifier Karki to Win Wimbledon Juniors Title

Ivan Ivanov of Bulgaria returns to Ronit Karki of the US in the boys' singles final at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Sunday, July 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland)
Ivan Ivanov of Bulgaria returns to Ronit Karki of the US in the boys' singles final at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Sunday, July 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland)
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Ivanov Beats American Qualifier Karki to Win Wimbledon Juniors Title

Ivan Ivanov of Bulgaria returns to Ronit Karki of the US in the boys' singles final at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Sunday, July 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland)
Ivan Ivanov of Bulgaria returns to Ronit Karki of the US in the boys' singles final at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Sunday, July 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland)

Ivan Ivanov of Bulgaria won his first Grand Slam title by beating Ronit Karki of the United States 6-2, 6-3 in the Wimbledon juniors final on Sunday.

The 16-year-old Ivanov became the second Bulgarian to win the title after Gregor Dimitrov in 2008.

He never faced a break point against Karki and finished with 22 winners, compared to six for his opponent.

Karki was trying to become the first qualifier to win the title since Noah Rubin in 2014.