Sakkari, ranked 9th in the world and seeded No. 2, had no trouble eliminating Garcia in straight sets (6-3, 6-0) and 1:11 of play.

Without conceding a set since the start of the tournament, Sakkari reached the final in Guadalajara for the second time, which she lost last year to American Jessica Pegula. This will be his first match against Dolehide, ranked 111th in the world.

A victory would be the culmination of a rollercoaster season, marked by elimination in the first round of the US Open.

"I said from day one that I felt it was THE week," said Sakkari, who will try Saturday to win his first title since the 2019 Morocco Open. "This is where I was going to overcome a lot of obstacles and difficult emotions."

"I don't want to go back to the US Open because it's in the past, but I'm so happy to be back in the final, I couldn't have asked for more," Sakkari continued.

The Greek committed only three direct faults in the first set and took control of the game by breaking to lead 3-1.

She broke Garcia to open the second set in a game where the Frenchwoman led 40-15, then pushed away three break balls to extend her lead to 4-0.

France's Caroline Garcia during her match against Greece's Maria Sakkari, on September 22, 2023 at the Guadalajara © Open ULISES RUIZ / AFP

"My goal today was to smile, to appreciate, to come here and have fun. Because these are emotions I haven't felt for a long time," Sakkari said.

"I'm going to have the same goal tomorrow," she promised.

Dolehide as an outsider

The Frenchwoman, ranked 11th in the world and seeded No. 3, lost the opportunity to win the 12th title of her career.

In the other semifinal, Caroline Dolehide had previously defeated former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin (world No. 53) in two sets (7-5, 6-3) and 1h25 of play.

Leading 4-2 in the first set, Dolehide rallied and won three games in a row before winning the set. Same scenario in the second set where, leading 3-1, she won five consecutive games and saved five break balls before winning on her first match ball.

American Caroline Dolehide after her victory against compatriot Sofia Kenin, on September 22, 2023 at the Guadalajara © Open ULISES RUIZ / AFP

Caroline Dolehide, 25, is the third unseeded finalist at a WTA 1000 tournament this year, following Karolina Muchova in Cincinnati and Barbora Krejcikova in Dubai. She is also the second WTA 1000 finalist not to be in the top 100 in the world since the format was introduced in 2009.

"I feel like it's the biggest win of my career. I am very proud of myself and my team. But the work is not finished and I can't wait to be tomorrow, because I have never participated in such an important final," said Dolehide.

© 2023 AFP