The ITF's Katrina Adams stays on the front lines for women with the Tory Burch Foundation Sports Fellowship

No. 6-ranked Maria Sakkari’s 7-6 (1), 6-7 (6), 6-3 victory over No. 2-ranked Aryna Sabalenka at the WTA Finals on Monday night was a milestone effort in many ways—it not only clinched her the last spot in the final four of the season-ending event, but it also tied the biggest win of her career, which was a victory over a No. 2-ranked Naomi Osaka in the quarterfinals of Miami earlier this year.

But there’s something else: Sakkari's win over Sabalenka extended her winning streak against Top 5 players to seven in a row.

SAKKARI’S 7-MATCH WINNING STREAK VS TOP 5 PLAYERS:
[l. to No. 4 Osaka in 2020 Brisbane 1st Rd, 6-2, 6-7 (4), 6-3]
d. No. 5 Bencic in 2020 St. Petersburg QFs, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3
d. No. 5 Svitolina in 2020 Ostrava 2nd Rd, 6-3, 6-3
d. No. 4 Kenin in 2021 Abu Dhabi QFs, 2-6, 6-2, 6-0
d. No. 2 Osaka in 2021 Miami QFs, 6-0, 6-4
d. No. 5 Kenin in 2021 Roland Garros 4th Rd, 6-1, 6-3
d. No. 4 Pliskova in 2021 US Open QFs, 6-4, 6-4
d. No. 2 Sabalenka in 2021 WTA Finals RR, 7-6 (1), 6-7 (6), 6-3

The next time the Greek’s Top 5 streak could come into play is if she and No. 5-ranked Garbine Muguruza play each other in the final in Guadalajara—their semifinal opponents, Anett Kontaveit and Paula Badosa, are ranked No. 8 and No. 10.

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"It's my first big win in Mexico and I think I will never forget it"💜@mariasakkari | #AKRONWTAFinals pic.twitter.com/eCRFID9fvV
— wta (@WTA) November 16, 2021

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Stat of the Day: Maria Sakkari is now on a 7-match winning streak against Top 5 players

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