Sakkari took the opening set in the rain-hit match, but US Open champion Gauff regrouped to take the second tie-break set.

It looked like the third set would also belong to Gauff, who broke in the first game of the third set.  However, Sakkari immediately rescued the break and won four games in a row to take a 4-1 lead.  She ultimately took the win 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-2 and will now face world number one Iga Swiatek in the final.

Swiatek’s dream tournament continues and she is yet to drop a set.  Earlier, it took the Pole just 65 minutes to beat Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk 6-2, 6-1.  

At Sunday’s final, Swiatek will be looking for her second title of 2024, after winning the Qatar Open.  She had a disappointing start to the year, exiting from the Australian Open in the third round, but then went on to win the title in Doha and reach the semi-finals in Dubai.  Her 19 match wins are the most of any WTA player this year.

OFM Sport/Ilse Smalberger