Maria Sakkari ended her perfect week with a title in the Guadalajara Open Akron held in Zapopan, Mexico on Saturday night (September 23).

The Greek player who was poised to make a deep run at the recently concluded US Open, was inconsolable after suffering a shock exit to the then World No. 71, Rebeka Masarova.

This loss was another in a string of disappointing tournaments for the Greek, who contemplated taking a break from the sport.

Sakkari has not won any titles since 2019 in Rabat and went into Saturday’s final having lost in her previous six finals appearances, including this tournament’s staging last year. She faced American Caroline Dolehide, who made a Cinderella run to the finals. Dolehide, currently ranked at No. 111, is the second lowest ranked player in history to advance to a WTA1000 finals and whose run to the final match of the tournament included a huge upset of fellow American and Grand Slam winner, Sofia Kenin.

The first set saw both women losing serve, with Sakkari creating more break chances than her opponent. She eventually went on to win the set 7-5. However, unlike the first set, after getting the break in the second set, Sakkari showed her class and put Dolehide under pressure the rest of the way.

Later, with the American serving to stay in the match at 3-5, Sakkari soared to a 0-40 lead that brought up 3 Championship points. Dolehide managed to save the first, but Sakkari capitalised the second time of asking to clinch the win.

This win ends a heartbreaking streak of Finals losses for the player and puts her in position to fight for a place in the WTA finals to be played later this year in Cancun, Mexico.

This marks the first WTA1000 title for Sakkari who, in a show of absolute dominance, ends the tournament having never dropped a set.