By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday September 24, 2023
Three weeks after leaving a press convention in tears on the US Open, and expressing want to take a break from the game, Maria Sakkari has returned to the winner’s circle after a spectacular run to the title in Guadalajara.
The 28-year-old Greek could have been confused about what to do subsequent after shedding her third consecutive Grand Slam match on the US Open, however after that crushing loss in New York she took the time to look inward, and ended up rising from her funk with a smile on her face.
Full credit score to Sakkari, a persistent perennial top-tenner who by no means lacks for effort, even when she does generally show a penchant for sabotaging herself within the largest moments. How else might we clarify Sakkari’s six-match shedding streak in finals, or her struggles in 2023? She’s just too proficient to battle so persistently in these defining moments.
After some soul-searching in current weeks, Sakkari realized that she has been being too arduous on herself. She made it some extent to smile and begin having fun with the game she loves as soon as once more.
Rating an help from American Coco Gauff – the newly topped Grand Slam champion has been preaching the identical strategy this 12 months, and it has paid off for her as nicely.
“I actually favored what Coco [Gauff] mentioned on the US Open, about how different individuals have larger issues than we’ve got after we lose a tennis match, and he or she’s spot on,” Sakkari advised WTA Insider. “I saved occupied with that, and that gave me energy.
“On the finish of the day, it is only a tennis match. I am wholesome, and that is an important factor. Everybody round me, my household, are blissful and wholesome. These are the issues that I took a while to consider, to recollect what’s vital in life. Everybody focuses on their very own issues, whether or not they’re large, small, vital or not vital. You overlook what is going on on in the remainder of the world.”
“I play tennis for a dwelling. That is fairly cool. I did not give myself an opportunity to take pleasure in it up to now.
“I advised myself, you owe it to your self to have enjoyable. And that is what occurred.” 🏆@WTA_insider speaks with Guadalajara champ @mariasakkari after her maiden WTA 1000 title 🗣️
— wta (@WTA) September 24, 2023
Haters get an help as nicely. Sakkari admitted that social media critics have weighed on – and motivated her – throughout her current struggles.
“We reside in 2023. Social media is part of our on a regular basis life,” Sakkari advised WTA Insider. “You can not keep away from it. Coco mentioned she is aware of the consumer names. I do know them, too. I do know the particular person with a YouTube channel who posts all my semifinal losses, all my ultimate losses. I am conscious.”
“The satisfaction now, I can not describe it. Once you show all these individuals flawed, it is gas. For me, it labored as gas. I knew it was going to come back, I did not know when. Thanks to them. They gave me energy.”