Thursday 24th April 2025 1030am local

‘But I don’t get it!’ You cry! ‘Gabs lost in qualifying a few days ago, you wrote about it. I read it, it must be true!’ Well yes, however she got a lucky loser spot into the first round and beat Great Britain’s Jodie Burrage 6-4 6-4!

‘Wow great result!’

Players are warming up I think Sakellaridi won the toss, I could not hear her decision though! Never mind we will soon find out, let’s go Gabs!

Sakellaridi is serving.

Note: The term ‘Proper Handed’ may get used a lot today this means ‘Left Handed Player’

0-3 Sakellaridi holds comfortably, she’s on auto pilot for the first three points but Gabs gets a rally going with some slice backhands and registers one point against the serve. Edgy couple of service points see Gabi fall to 0-30 but she levels with a Sakellaridi error from a strong second serve and then a nice flowing rally which wins her another error off of her beautiful single handed backhand. However two errors on the backhand cost her the game. The one on break point must have been close, her strokes are looking good she’s competing well. Sakellaridi holds again as Gabi makes a few more errors. She is just struggling to settle in here. Next service game will be key in this opening set!

0-5 Gabi again falls to 0-30 she loses her balance a little in the next one but manages to dip the ball over the net out of reach for her opponent and get the point. She wrestles to deuce as both players strike the ball well and find the lines. Gabs gets a nice lob over Sakellaridi and into the far corner of the deuce court. Sakellaridi races back and makes it, catching out Gabs who makes an error for break point. Sakellaridi gets a huge forehand back but Gabs drops the return out of reach. A similar point on Sakellaridi’s next break point chance. She again returns Gabs’ big forehand, Gabs puts this one back, Sakellaridi sends it into the air and Gabs misses a smash, a bad miss that costs her a second break of serve. And it’s looking bleak for the Romanian. Another nice lob in the next game gets Gabi a break point which Sakellaridi saves. Gabi gets a break point after winning a lovely rally; a delicious backhand is returned well but Gabi clears up at the net. She then gets in another long exchange but pays the price for aiming her forehand into her opponent’s hitting zone. More deuces follow and this is becoming a huge game. An amazing Gabi backhand down the line winner follows on game point, the mark is checked looks like it was called out but the umpire confirms it is good. The point is replayed Gabi ends another long rally with a forehand winner. We continue on but eventually Sakellaridi wins it for the chunky lead.

1-6 Gorgeous point for 15-15 from Gabs showing silky hand skills at the net before polishing off with a beautiful Backhand down the line pass. She then holds to 15 for a very much needed first game of the set. She’s definitely better than this score, she just has not completely settled and making a few too many mistakes at critical moments. Sakellaridi holds to love to slam the door on a damning first set. But Gabi has shown signs she can make a match of it.

1-6 1-0 Gabi saves two early break points for deuce, more magic at the net and then a lovely drop shot sets her up for game point. She is not so lucky as she tries it again on the next point as Sakellaridi gets to this one and tucks it away into the far corner of the deuce court. However Gabs battles through and gets that important first service hold of set two. One brick at a time Champ!

1-6 2-1 Sakellaridi holds with no real bother and Gabi serves again. She is trying to get forward as much as possible but a bad volley miss at the net costs her the opening point. Sakellaridi forces her into a backhand error for 15-30 she pushes forward to 40-30 with driving forehands but soon finds herself at deuce, she battles through to hold again. Fair play Gabs, keep going!

1-6 3-1 Sakellaridi has a very unusual wavy motion on the second serve, it seems to be working though. Gabs is not getting a great deal from it. Gabi breaks, she deserves it too, she is the ultimate professional, she has had the patience of a crocodile at the bottom of a tree, she has worked through some difficult moments but not got flustered and she has broken down her opponent’s serve. Can she capitalise?

2-6 4-1 It is still a mixed bag from Gabi, she looks in complete control in an early point, striking the ball brilliantly off of both wings but then another volley miss at the net. She saves a break point with a drop shot and a delightful backhand passing win, it is sublime (she must know I am watching). It is another mini battle as a break point is saved as a Sakellaridi return sails well long. Gabs then crucially holds, again so many shots brush the lines, she thought she had won the point a couple of times but she is playing to the whistle and working very hard!

1-6 5-2 It is a quick hold for Sakellaridi to show the Romanian she still has a job to do. Wow! Gabs drawn into the net again forced into the cross court backhand pass which is not hit too cleanly. I thought it missed, I think Gabi did too but it’s good. Sakellaridi yells in anger as Gabs reaches 40-0 and then holds comfortably, what an amazing turn around by the Romanian – Keep going Gabs!!!!

1-6 6-3 Sakellaridi holds again, ‘Keep doing it’ she dares Gabi as the moment of truth arrives! Absolute beauty again down line proper handed single handed backhand winner for 30-15 the sexiest shot in tennis! Sakellaridi is fuming at 40-15 yelling angry things in Greek as Gabi takes the set! What a turnaround!!!!

1-6 6-3 0-1 Gabs pushes her way into the Sakellaridi service game as she seems to have a handle on those wavy second serves now! Cracks one open to set up another gorgeous cross court backhand winner but Sakellaridi finishes the game strong and we are off in set three!

1-6 6-3 0-2 Serve demons have crept into Gabi’s game again, a tentative opening point is followed by a double fault, however she gets a backhand winner on second serve and fights to 30-30. Relentless defending from Sakellaridi forces her into a couple of errors and Gabi ultimately pays the price for giving herself too much to do early in the game. The Greek player has the advantage but the set is young.

1-6 6-3 0-3 Gabi wins another point against the serve at the net and is able to again punish another of the wavy seconds. She is definitely still a threat in all the Greek player’s service games but as Sakellaridi holds again, it is all about how Gabi manages her own deal, there’s no way she can go down again – come on Gabs – Never Surrender!

1-6 6-3 1-4 Gabi holds to love what an amazing attitude! Yet Sakellaridi responds in kind with a love hold of her own and the wavy seconds are causing a splash again! Pressure back on our little warrior as time is starting to run out!!!!

1-6 6-3 2-5 ‘Don’t forget about me too!’ cries Gabi’s forehand as she hits a beautiful winner down the line. Gabi holds to love again! Sealing the deal with another excellent lob! She still needs to crack the Greek code however, such a shame she is behind when she is playing so well now! Sakellaridi also holds to love and to rub salt in the wound she gets Gabi with a lob winner on game point. No one is surrending anything on serve at the moment but Gabi has to serve to stay in now so is facing scoreboard pressure too!

1-6 6-3 3-5 Gabi goes up 30-0 but the first point is lost on serve for a while from either player as Sakellaridi charges forward with a deadly forehand winner. She has Gabs at the net at 30-30 but gets a little too excited a goes a fraction long with her shot. Gabs survives but now Sakellaridi is serving for the match!

1-6 6-3 3-6 Gabs gets into the game on the third point and a nervous error at the net from Sakellaridi gets us to 30-30. A long rally follows yet a Gabi forehand just goes long for a Sakellaridi Match point. She pushes Gabi into the far corner of the Ad court which to her credit she retrieves but a short return follows and this one is out of reach for the Romanian and it is game over. One early blow in the final set cost her but she was brilliant after that early break and battled so hard against a tough foe. So proud of you Gabs!