WTA roundup: Maria Sakkari reaches hometown final in Athens

July 18 - Maria Sakkari moved within one victory of lifting a trophy in her hometown Saturday, defeating Russia's Alina Korneeva ​6-1, 7-5 to reach the final of the Athens ‌Open. The fourth-seeded Sakkari controlled the opening set before Korneeva provided more resistance in the second, but the Greek favorite completed the ​victory in 1 hour, 23 minutes. Sakkari's run comes ​40 years after her mother, Angeliki Kanellopoulou, reached ⁠the final of a WTA tournament in Athens. Sakkari will ​face No. 3 seed Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic, ​who eliminated top-seeded Clara Tauson of Denmark 6-1, 4-6, 6-3. Krejcikova regrouped after dropping the second set to reach her first final of ​the season in a match that was nearly twice ​as long as the other semifinal at two hours and 45 ‌minutes. Spain's Paula Badosa extended her winning streak to nine matches by rallying past Slovenia's Tamara Zidansek 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (1) in the semifinals at Iasi, Romania. Badosa recovered after dropping ​the opening set ​and was ⁠pushed deep into the next two. The former world No. 2 finally took control in ​the crucial tiebreaker, winning six straight points ​and advancing ⁠to her second straight final after winning last week's Nordea Open. Egypt's Mayar Sherif claimed the other spot in the ⁠championship match ​by dispatching third-seeded Oleksandra Oliynykova ​of Ukraine 6-3, 6-1. Sherif won 10 of the final 11 games to ​reach her first tour-level final in two years. Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tab