TOP four seeds and Belarusian duo, Victoria Azarenka and Aryna Sabalenka will contest the 2020 Ostrava Open final tomorrow after winning their respective semi-finals today. Two-time Grand Slam winner Azarenka defeated Greek talent Maria Sakkari, while Sabalenka had the better of American Jennifer Brady to make the decider.

Fourth seed Azarenka has been in ripping form since the return from the COVID-19 break, and continued that form with a comprehensive 6-1 6-3 victory over Sakkari in one hour and 37 minutes, Azarenka had an elite serving efficiency of 82 per cent, and won 60 and 54 per cent of her first and second serve points, also producing three aces. Sakkari could not quite reproduce the same dominance off her serve, only winning 47 and 50 per cent of her service points respectively.

On return, Azarenka produced 13 break point opportunities and took five, whilst saving seven out of eight of her own to frustrate the up and coming Greek star. It was the first time the pair had faced each other on the WTA Tour and the win meant the former world number one moved to a remarkable 18-3 since the season resumed.

“I believe I have strong assurance in my ability, of what I can do,” Azarenka said post-match. “I think the matter of the next step is executing that assurance, and stay disciplined to perform the consistent work that I do.”

Azarenka hit 16 winners to Sakkari’s 28, but had considerably more discipline with only 15 unforced errors compared to the world number 23’s 38. Now she is eyeing off her second title of the year having triumphed at the Western & Southern Open. Already she has moved up one spot to 13 in the world with her final run, and is only one spot off her Ostrava Open opponent, Sabalenka in the rankings.

“The whole point is to enjoy your work and process, and I think that’s a very simple thing to say, but when you actually feel that and you live that, that’s the most fun part,” Azarenka said. “Really being able to enjoy that moment.”

“What I’m really happy with is that I play every point like it’s my last point, and I think that makes a difference for my opponent. “I think I’m making it very hard for them to earn anything on the court, and that’s what I’m going to continue to do.”

Sabalenka made her way into the final after a remarkable tournament, culminating in a semi-finals win over Brady 6-4 6-4 in 75 minutes on court. Having been on the brink of being eliminated by Spanish qualifier Sara Sorribes Tormo yesterday – Sabalenka was a point off being down 6-0 5-0 before reeling off 12 straight games to win 0-6 6-4 6-0 – Sabalenka built on that later momentum to push past a determined Brady.

Winning 72 and 73 per cent of her first and second serve points off a 59 per cent clip, Sabalenka also hit 22 winners and broke on each of her three break point opportunities in an all-round performance. Brady had her chances too, breaking once from six chances, and won 75 per cent of her first serve points, but unfortunately the American could only produce a serving efficiency of 52 per cent and won just 46 per cent off her second serve.

This time it was Sabalenka who took a big lead early racing out to 5-1 before Brady mounted a comeback in the first set only to fall short and go down 6-4. Again, Sabalenka took control early in the second set with an important break that ended up being the difference in the end for the third seed and world number 12.

“I was playing from the beginning until the end,” Sabalenka said post-match “Those [close] games, she played really well so it was nothing to do with me. “She just played really well, and I was just like, keep going.”

“I just said to myself, okay, she did well. “Let her play, let her go for a few more winners if she can. “That mindset really helped me to come back in those games.”

Tomorrow’s final marks the WTA Tour’s first ever all-Belarusian final. Sabalenka said she was looking forward to it and knew just how tough the match would be against the only Belarusian Grand Slam winner.

“It’s a big day tomorrow, and I’m really happy that we’re both in the final,” Sabalenka said. “[Two] Belarusians, this has never happened before, and it’s something big for us. I’m just really looking forward for tomorrow and I’m ready for a big fight.”

“She’s moving really well, physically she’s really strong. “Her game is really tough, and she’s not missing a lot, moving well and also aggressive. “It’s going to be tough.”

Picture: Jimmie48/WTA