By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday March 14, 2024
Indian Wells – With new coach David Witt in her field, Maria Sakkari is making an attempt to ring within the new, whereas concurrently turning again the clock.
The Greek desires to play the kind of tennis she was enjoying when she reached No.3 on this planet (and reached the BNP Paribas Open remaining) just a few years in the past, and he or she’s headed in the suitable route this week at Indian Wells, the place she reached the semifinals for the third consecutive yr.
“I am actually shopping for into the brand new – not the brand new, as a result of we’ve not actually achieved any modifications, however simply making an attempt to play the way in which I performed two years in the past once I had an excellent run, simply going to the web and being aggressive and simply going after my serve,” Sakkari informed reporters this week within the BNP Paribas Open press room.
“Simply being courageous, mainly. Not enjoying to lose; enjoying to win. It has actually helped me this week.”
Sakkari has gained three three-setters at Indian Wells this week, defeating No.23 seed Emma Navarro within the newest, 5-7, 6-2, 6-4, to set a semifinal with Coco Gauff on Friday in Southern California.
PERFECT 🔟 @mariasakkari fights previous Navarro 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 in a late night time battle and reaches her tenth WTA 1000 semifinal!
#TennisParadise pic.twitter.com/h3hJr1UgMi
— wta (@WTA) March 15, 2024
No matter Witt is doing as her new coach, Sakkari feels it’s working. They’re at a match collectively for the primary time and he or she informed reporters she is having fun with his relaxed vibe.
He is simply very relaxed and really laid again,” Sakkari says of the person who previously coached Venus Williams and Jessica Pegula. “That is what I want, as a result of I am very exhausting on myself. So I simply want somebody that, , he would not stress me, and that is what David does rather well. Clearly has, , an unbelievable expertise on the tennis facet.
“On the psychological facet, I simply really feel like he is simply very, very relaxed. That is what I actually like. As I stated, he is so humorous that I simply take pleasure in my time with him on and off the courtroom. He is bonding rather well with the remainder of the group, which is a vital factor, as a result of we spend a whole lot of time with one another. You already know, we created a really good group the previous few days.”
Maria Sakkari survives Emma Navarro with a 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 win in virtually three hours to achieve the semifinals in Indian Wells for the third consecutive yr.
Runner up in 2022
Semifinalist in 2023
Semifinalist* in 2024ninth WTA 1000 SF
Good begin with David Witt. pic.twitter.com/Ne28zUOmAh
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) March 15, 2024
The 28-year-old Greek, at the moment No.9 on this planet, nonetheless has a shot to recapture her former glory – and he or she believes she will be able to.
“I wish to enhance,” Sakkari stated. “I received to No. 3 and I simply really feel like I can get higher. There are a few ladies which have made an additional step of their careers, and I simply wish to try to catch them. “By working with David, I really feel like I can do this. I simply really feel like I’ve the athletic talents. Mentally I can enhance, after all, and tennis-wise, it isn’t like I want to alter my sport. It is simply that I want so as to add a few issues.”
Requested if she felt her sport has been stagnant over the previous few years, Sakkari replied:
“Somewhat bit, I might say. Not blaming anybody, after all, blaming solely myself,” she stated. “I simply really feel like simply making an attempt, , new issues and making an attempt to, , be higher and enhance, . I actually consider I’ve a superb probability on simply getting again to that degree and giving myself the very best probability to develop into, , top-of-the-line gamers once more.
“Not that prime 10 is a nasty factor, however, , simply higher than that.”