Coco Gauff and Maria Sakkari will meet for the eighth time in their careers when facing each other at the semi-final stage of Indian Wells on Saturday.
Gauff has reached the final four of this tournament for the first time in her career, whereas Sakkari will be competing at her third successive semi-final in California.
Match preview
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After making her Grand Slam breakthrough by winning the US Open last year, Gauff - who hails from America's opposite coastline in Florida - may feel that the stage is set for her to finally lift her first Indian Wells title.
The 20-year-old won in straight sets for the third successive match when battling past Yuan Yue in the quarter-finals, despite trailing 3-1 and by a break point at one stage of the second set. She became the youngest American since Serena Williams in 2001 to reach the tournament's last four.
"I'm really happy to be through today's match," Gauff said. "It wasn't the best style of the serving, but overall I think when it comes to the groundstroke game and returns, everything else, honestly, I played well. I just try and take the positives into the next match."
Those comments perhaps accurately reflect that Gauff has not been at her fluent best this week, having required two tie breaks to progress beyond her opening two matches, before impressively swatting Elise Mertens aside. She will almost certainly need to step it up to defeat Sakkari on Saturday.
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Indeed, Sakkari is beginning to feel at home in California, although she has certainly not had an easy ride in terms of making it to her third straight semi-final. The Greek has required three sets in three of her four victories so far, including when defeating Emma Navarro in the quarter-finals.
In chilly conditions on Stadium 2, Sakkari eventually prevailed after almost three hours of action. Navarro had taken the first set but Sakkari showed her usual spirit and resolve to force her way into the final four.
"That was the toughest match I've played in a while," Sakkari admitted. "Emma [Navarro], she's an incredible player. She has been playing amazing and it's a huge win for me; I'm just very happy that I found a way to win this match today."
Her reward is another tough match-up against Gauff, but the 28-year-old will take some confidence from the fact that she has defeated her younger opponent in four of their previous seven meetings. World No.1 Iga Swiatek, who beat Sakarri in the final here two years ago, potentially looms in Sunday's final.
Tournament so far
Coco Gauff:
Second round: vs. Clara Burel 6-2 3-6 7-6[4]
Third round: vs. Lucia Bronzetti 6-2 7-6[5]
Round of 16: vs. Elise Mertens 6-0 6-2
Quarter-final: vs. Yuan Yue 6-4 6-3
Maria Sakkari:
Second round: vs. Diana Shnaider 5-7 6-4 6-0
Third round: vs. Caroline Garcia 6-3 6-4
Round of 16: vs. Diane Parry 6-2 3-6 6-3
Quarter-final: vs. Emma Navarro 5-7 6-2 6-4
Head To Head
Beijing (2023) - Quarter-finals: Gauff def. Sakkari 6-2 6-4
Washington (2023) - Final: Gauff def. Sakkari 6-2 6-3
Rome (2022) - Last-16: Sakkari def. Gauff 6-4 7-5
Doha (2022) - Quarter-finals: Sakkari def. Gauff 6-3 6-3
Rome (2021) - Last-32: Gauff def. Sakkari 6-1 1-6 6-1
Abu Dhabi (2021) - Last-32: Sakkari def. Gauff 7-5 6-2
Cincinnati (2020) - Last-64: Sakkari def. Gauff 6-1 6-3
After winning four of their first five meetings, Gauff prevailed both times these two players faced each other last year. This suggests that the American, who was only 17-years-old when they first met in 2020, may have the edge on her opponent.
Surprisingly, only one of the seven head-to-head encounters has gone to a deciding third set, which was when Gauff prevailed on the red dirt in Rome in 2021.
We say: Gauff to win in three sets
This has all the makings of a potentially classic encounter, with Gauff's power-hitting style contrasting nicely with Sakkari's excellent movement and defensive play. The Greek has had to dig deep in nearly all of her matches this week, and it will almost certainly be no different when she faces Gauff.
We are backing the US Open champion to reach her first Indian Wells final, though, even if she may be pushed to a deciding set for only the second time at this year's event.
Brett Curtis
