Ekaterina Alexandrova and Sara Sorribes Tormo will vie for the Cleveland Open title on Saturday. Both players got through to the final after winning their respective semi-finals in straight sets. Alexandrova was the first player to reach the title round.
Seeded fourth this week, Alexandrova defeated Lin Zhu, 7-5, 6-2 in 81 minutes. Of the two contestants, Zhu was the one with the better first-serve percentage. She put in 68% of her first serves to Alexandrova’s 63%. However, the latter made the most of the first serves she put in.
She won 28 of her 36 first-serve points to the latter’s 54%. Alexandrova also won 57% of her second-serve points to Zhu’s 50%. Alexandrova lost her serve only once in the match and converted four of seven break points that came her way on Zhu’s serve.
After the match, Alexandrova said, “It was quite a difficult match because I think semifinal matches, they're never easy. I had a break early in the first set, but I couldn't keep it unfortunately, so it was 5-5 and a really shaky situation.
I was able to manage to find a way back”.
Cleveland Open: Sara Sorribes Tormo denies Tatjana Maria
Meanwhile, the score-line of the second semi-final looked to be straightforward but the proceedings were wrapped up after almost two hours of play.
Sorribes Tormo eventually prevailed over Tatjana Maria 6-4, 6-3 after an hour and 53 minutes of duelling. Sorribes Tormo won 66% of her first-serve points to the German’s 62%. Both players found better rhythm on second-serve return.
The Spaniard won 67% points on return on Maria’s second-serve while the latter won 69% points on second-serve return. Sorribes Tormo created more break point chances for herself on Maria’s serve, finishing with 13 for the match.
Maria saved seven of these and even converted three break points on Sorribes Tormo’s serve but it wasn’t enough to see her through. The Cleveland Open’s the seventh final of Ekaterina Alexandrova’s career and if she wins the title, it will be the second time this year she’ll have lifted a WTA title.
She’d previously won the title in S’Hertogenbosch in the grass swing. Sara Sorribes Tormo’s contesting a WTA final for the second time in her career and could win her second WTA trophy.