Maria Sakkari saved four match points to edge past Elina Svitolina 1-6 7-6(3) 6-3 and reach the San Jose semi-finals.
Last year’s finalist struggled for a set and a half against the top seeded Ukrainian before saving four match points and eventually reaching the last four.
At 6-1 5-3, the match looked out of Sakkari’s reach before she managed to survive and turn the match around in stunning circumstances.
After her stunning comeback win, Sakkari told the WTA website she was excited after the match, “I was one step away from losing,” the Greek number one said.
“I’m very excited that I managed to turn the score around and be back in the semi-final here in San Jose. I have great memories from last year, so it’s super nice to be back.”
Next up for Sakkari is Saisai Zheng as the 24 year-old looks to make a second consecutive final in San Jose and her second title of the season.
As for Zheng, she managed to edge past 4th seed and 17 year-old Amanda Anisimova 5-7 7-5 6-4 in just under three hours in an epic battle.
There was big praise from Zheng to the American after the match as Anisimova struggles physically throughout the match, “The third set in the end, a few points decided who was the winner. I’m really happy I got through this,” Zheng said after the match.
“I played her last time and I knew she has unbelievable talent. She has great touch and really aggressive game, and it was going to be tough anyway. I just gave my all. I just tried to hit it back and when I had a short ball, I go and try to enjoy.”
In the other semi-final, Donna Vekic will play Aryna Sabalenka after both players had very contrasting quarter-final victories.
It was a relatively straight-forward 7-5 6-0 win for Vekic, who is in her first semi-final since losing that epic final in Nottingham a couple of months ago.
While Sabalenka battled past Carla Suarez Navarro 3-6 6-2 6-4 in just under two hours as the second seed looks to kickstart her singles year.
All three meetings between Vekic and Sabalenka have ended with the Croatian having won on all three occasions but they haven’t met since Cincinnati 2017.
