Last Updated on October 30, 2021
Sara Sorribes Tormo is having one of the best seasons of her career. In March, she won her first WTA Tour title at Guadalajara, beating Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard in two sets, then in April she moved up to No. 46 in the WTA rankings. But perhaps most will remember that the Spaniard knocked out event leader Ash Barty in her first match at the Olympics. It took Sara, a native of Castellon, 1 hour and 34 minutes to defeat Barty 6-4, 6-3.
Victory over world No. 1
Barty can forget her dream of a medal
World No.1 and Wimbledon champion has been upset by Sara Sorribes Tormo 6-4 6-3 in Tokyo R1 😯 pic.twitter.com/xibVxMIcGU
— We Are Tennis (@WeAreTennis) July 25, 2021
After winning in unbearable heat, Sara Sorribes Tormo could not contain her emotions from winning the first round of the Olympics.
“My big dream was just to be here, so imagine what it’s like to beat the No. 1.I come from a small town La Vall d’Uixó, from a humble family and for my parents to have seen me achieve this makes me feel so proud. I’m so excited that I honestly don’t know who I’m playing now in the next round. These are incredible emotions. I’m very, very happy” -said Sara.
The Spaniard also noted what helped her win such a tight match.
“The players and the players are complaining it’s true. But I’m quite strong physically, we do some very demanding training and these conditions can benefit me. I sweat a lot but I am not too affected by the heat or at least I think less than other players. I’m used to very long matches and that helps me when competing like this”
Match Statistics
| Sara Sorribes Tormo | Ashleigh Barty | |
| Aces | 0 | 4 |
| Double Faults | 1 | 2 |
| 1st Serve Percentage | 83% | 54% |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 62% | 59% |
| Break Points Saved | 7/9 | 4/9 |
| Break Points Converted | 5/9 | 2/9 |
| Unforced Errors | 13 | 55 |
A familiar opponent
In the next round, Sara Sorribes Tormo will face French tennis player Fiona Ferro, who in the first round of the Olympics beat Anastasija Sevastova in two sets.
Ce samedi, Fiona #Ferro (n°64) 🇨🇵 a franchi le 1er tour des #JeuxOlympiques de #Tokyo2020 en battant Anastasija #Sevastova (n°53) 🇱🇻 2-6, 6-4, 6-2. En revanche, Alizé #Cornet (n°66) 🇨🇵 s’est inclinée face à Karolina #Pliskova (n°7) 🇨🇿 en deux sets 6-1, 6-3.
(📸 : @FFTennis) pic.twitter.com/yIE5lUD5h6
— Jeu, Set Et Match (@jeu_set_etmatch) July 25, 2021
Sara already met with Fiona twice in 2019, and both times the Frenchwoman was stronger. The first time Fiona beat Sara at the Hobart competition, and then at a tournament in Palermo.
Who will win in the second round? We’ll find out very soon.
