Miami (AFP)

Greece's Maria Sakkari, 25th in the world, created a sensation at the Miami tournament on Wednesday by advancing to the semi-finals at the expense of world No. 2 and favorite Naomi Osaka, swept 6-0, 6-4, her first loss on a tennis court for 418 days.

We had to go back to February 7, 2020, and a first round of FedCup against the Spanish Sara Sorribes - potential opponent of Sakkari in the next round, if she beats the Canadian Bianca Andreescu (N.8) - to find traces of a defeat handmade racket from Osaka.

The winner of the last US Open and Australian Open had certainly lost two finals since, but each time by forfeit: in New York where the Cincinnati tournament was relocated in August 2020, then in Melbourne in early February, as part of Gippsland Trophy, preparatory to his 4th Grand Slam coronation in the Australian city.

"She is the player who has won by far the most matches in the last year, the most fit, this victory means a lot to me", commented Sakkari, who had cracked the silence on the court with a furious cry. right after converting his match point.

This time, Osaka was on the court of the Florida GrandStand, still weighed down by the humid heat and a fairly disruptive wind, to try to advance in a test where it had, until this year, never exceeded the 8th of final.

But she completely missed the first set.

Unlike Sakkari, she started with a quarter-turn and broke her three times, taking advantage of a first ball at half mast (35%) and a shower of unforced errors from her opponent, including lack of energy , mobility, will was also sanctioned by the winning blows of the 25-year-old Greek.

- "Smart match" -

The Japanese reacted to the second set, opening her game counter, not without having saved three break points.

And it was Sakkari's turn to lower his footing slightly, to leave his service to his opponent, who broke away 3-0 then 4-2.

But as we saw Osaka turn the situation around, she lost sight of her and gave up her service, again failing.

Like a symbol of the inevitable that was looming, the body language displayed by Sakkari running back to his chair contrasted terribly with that of his future victim, dragging his sneakers, head bowed.

The following ?

The Greek won without batting an eyelid the last three games and the match after 1:09.

She can savor his performance and dream of a final or more, just like the few Greek fans present at Miami Gardens, who dream of a double with Stefanos Tsitsipas - the world number 5 will also try to reach the last four. Thursday against the Pole Hubert Hurkacz.

"I played well in the first set, I didn't make a lot of unforced errors. I put out a good game plan. I got a little tense afterwards in the first two games of the second set. But I was stayed (focused) and I started to fight again ", Sakkari analyzed, satisfied with her" smart match ".

For Osaka, the defeat in Miami buries its hopes of reaching the first place in the world.

Because her failure ensures de facto Australian Ashleigh Barty, qualified for the semi-finals, to keep her seat at the top of the WTA rankings.

In the evening, Daniil Medvedev, world No.2 and favorite among men, will face the Spaniard Roberto Bautista, world 12th.

© 2021 AFP