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Writer's pictureMatan Slonim

SANDERS STORMS INTO TOP 10


Australian, Storm Sanders claimed the biggest title of her career, winning the WTA 1000 Guadalajara Open doubles title with partner Luisa Stefani 7-6(4), (2)6-7, 10-8

Sanders will rise to inside the top 10 for doubles in the WTA rankings for the first time in her career.

Sanders and Stefani claimed in the opening set tiebreaker before Haddad Maia and Danilina claimed the second set to send the match to a deciding match tiebreak.

In a seesawing match tiebreak, Sanders and Stefaine fought from two points down to claim the deciding tiebreak and win their maiden WTA 1000 title.

Sanders will now turn her attention to international duties where she will team up with Ellen Perez in the doubles for Australia in the Billy Jean King Cup.

The Australian will also have her eyes firmly on the 2023 Australian Open where she will aim to progress to the second round of an Grand Slam in doubles for the first time.

Pegula’s Big Breakthrough

Jessica Pegula claimed the first WTA 1000 title of her career, defeating world No. 6, Maria Sakkari, 6-2, 6-3 in the Guadalajara Open final.

Pegula saved match points in her opening match before going on to defeat four Grand Slam Champions en route to her first title of 2022.

The American will now rise to a career-high ranking of world No. 3.

In a battle of two of the biggest hitters on the WTA Tour, it was the American who proved too strong for her Greek opponent.

From 2-2 in the opening set, Pegula went on a rampage, winning 16 of the next 19 points.

The second started the same way the first set concluded. Pegula raced to a 5-2 lead before Sakkari managed to gain one break of serve back. Unfortunately for Sakkari, it was not enough to prevent Pagula from claiming the highest-level title of her career.

An emotional Pegula was thrilled to have captured the biggest title of her career.

"Just a lot of emotions, but super excited just to get a big title next to my name. That was something I really wanted this year, and I kept saying it was one of my goals, so to be able to accomplish it at the end of the year is really cool.”

Pegula has won more matches since 2021 at WTA 1000 events than any other player on tour.

Zanevska Triumphs in France

Marynac Zanevska defeated Viktorija Golubic 7-6(6), 6-1 in the final of the Open Capfinances Rouen Metropole to win the first WTA 125 title of her career.

Serving for the opening set at 5-4, Zanevska made some crucial errors and Golubic was able to capitalise to level the set. Zanevska rediscovered her composure to take the opening set in a hard-fought tiebreak.

Zanevska breezed through the second set, breaking Golubic three times on her way to the title.

Post-match, Zanevska pinpointed the first set tiebreak as a crucial point in the match.

"It could be a set for her, it was really 50/50," Zanevska said. "[Golubic] played really well, we pushed each other to a really high level. … I made it with all my focus, and tried to be disciplined with my shot selections, tried to be tough in my head, and to just fight until the last point."

Zanevska will rise to No. 62 in the WTA rankings, just two spots short of her career-high ranking.

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