WASHINGTON, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- Down a set and allowing two breaks, Maria Sakkari completed a dramatic turnaround against US player Danielle Collins to book a spot in her first WTA final at the San Jose Open, winning it at 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 on Saturday.
"I think it's part of my character and the way I grew up playing. I like drama," the Greek player said after the victory. "When things get tighter, I'm more used to it. It's in my character."
"I think at 4-1 in the second she started really stepping up to the baseline and putting her foot on the gas," Collins explained afterwards. "It helped her get back in her rhythm and playing more aggressive. It threw me off a little bit. She played some really great tennis."
Next, Sakkari will take on Mihaela Buzarnescu in the final as she seeks to lift the San Jose trophy. The Romanian also came back from a set down against her opponent, Elise Mertens from Belgium, to reach the final.
Sakkari's impressive run this week, including a stunner over Venus Williams, has guaranteed her a spot back into the top 40 in the world rankings.