Iga Świątek recovered from a set down to defeat Maria Sakkari 4-6, 6-1, 6-1 in oppressive heat at Cincinnati on Monday.
The victory capped a memorable day for the Polish player, who had earlier climbed from eighth to fifth in the WTA world rankings following her title triumph in Toronto.
Played in severe heat and humidity, the third-round match saw Świątek start with solid serving and heavy topspin forehands. However, Sakkari broke her serve to take a 3-2 lead in the opening set following a succession of superb returns.
Świątek struggled to defend against further break points as return statistics heavily favored her Greek opponent. Świątek's serve proved precise but predictable for Sakkari to read, while the fast hard court in Cincinnati rewarded aggressive baseline play. Świątek appeared hesitant in her shot selections and grew increasingly nervous as the set progressed.
The tight opening set differed markedly from Świątek's previous match against Colombia's Emiliana Arango, where the Pole adjusted her range early before dominating like a boxer against a punching bag. Sakkari possessed far greater firepower than Arango, winning 80 percent of points behind her first serve and aggressively pushing Świątek behind the baseline.
Sakkari closed out the first set 6-4 after firing two aces and a service winner in the final game, leaving a single break of serve as the difference between the two players.
Career resurgence for Maria Sakkari
Sakkari, a former world number three, entered the contest following an extended period of struggle and determination. Her career downturn began two years ago after parting ways with her long-time coach Tom Hill following disappointing results.
A persistent injury sustained at the US Open late in the 2024 season plagued Sakkari throughout 2025, triggering a physical and psychological crisis. During that stretch, Sakkari rotated through four or five different coaches before ultimately reuniting with Hill.
Her fortunes reversed at the tournament in Doha, where as world number 52 the 31-year-old Greek star produced a dream run. She defeated then world number eight Jasmine Paolini and world number two Świątek, becoming the first player ever to defeat the Pole after losing the first set in a WTA 1000 event, snapping Świątek's 109-match winning streak when taking the opening set.
Although Sakkari subsequently lost half of her next 24 matches, her previous victory over Świątek in Qatar provided reason for optimism ahead of Monday's encounter in Ohio.
Dominant second-set turnaround
Świątek responded decisively at the start of the second set, producing strong defense to hold serve in the opening game before creating her first break points of the match. She converted on her second opportunity to take a 2-0 lead, quickly building a 3-0 cushion.
A second break allowed Świątek to extend her lead to 4-1 and then 5-1. Despite controlling the set, Świątek showed visible frustration over errors on her own service games, recording three double faults in the set out of six total in the match.
While Sakkari's serve effectiveness dropped significantly in the second set, Świątek experienced fluctuating service games, interspersing vulnerable holds with outstanding points set up by her serve. Świątek steadily built confidence as the set wore on, completing a 6-1 set win with a flawless final rally.
Closing victory and fourth-round matchup
Sakkari served first in the deciding third set, but Świątek immediately broke serve to take control. Sakkari's first-serve percentage improved slightly from a dismal 35 percent in the second set, but she continued to surrender points with severe unforced errors, missing by wide margins when holding control of rallies.
Świątek showed no mercy, breaking Sakkari a second time for a 3-0 lead before holding serve to reach 4-0. After two hours of play, Świątek earned match point at 5-1 and converted immediately to seal a second consecutive 6-1 set victory.
Świątek advances to the fourth round, where she will face French player Diane Parry. World number 66 Parry secured her spot in the fourth round by defeating fellow French competitor Lois Boisson, ranked 281st in the world, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.
