By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday March 14, 2024
Indian Wells – With new coach David Witt in her field, Maria Sakkari is attempting to ring within the new, whereas concurrently turning again the clock.
The Greek needs to play the kind of tennis she was taking part in when she reached No.3 on the planet (and reached the BNP Paribas Open ultimate) a couple of years in the past, and he or she’s headed in the best route this week at Indian Wells, the place she reached the semifinals for the third consecutive 12 months.
“I am actually shopping for into the brand new – not the brand new, as a result of we’ve not actually executed any adjustments, however simply attempting to play the best way I performed two years in the past once I had an excellent run, simply going to the online and being aggressive and simply going after my serve,” Sakkari informed reporters this week within the BNP Paribas Open press room.
“Simply being courageous, principally. Not taking part in to lose; taking part in to win. It has actually helped me this week.”
Sakkari has received 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 evening 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 event 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, you realize, he would not stress me, and that is what David does rather well. Clearly has, you realize, an unimaginable expertise on the tennis aspect.
“On the psychological aspect, I simply really feel like he is simply very, very relaxed. That is what I actually like. As I mentioned, he is so humorous that I simply take pleasure in my time with him on and off the court docket. He is bonding rather well with the remainder of the crew, which is an important factor, as a result of we spend a number of time with one another. You already know, we created a really good crew 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 12 months.
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 present No.9 on the 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 mentioned. “I acquired to No. 3 and I simply really feel like I can get higher. There are a few women which have made an additional step of their careers, and I simply wish to attempt to catch them. “By working with David, I really feel like I can do this. I simply really feel like I’ve the athletic skills. Mentally I can enhance, in fact, 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:
“Just a little bit, I’d say. Not blaming anybody, in fact, blaming solely myself,” she mentioned. “I simply really feel like simply attempting, you realize, new issues and attempting to, you realize, be higher and enhance, you realize. I actually consider I’ve a great probability on simply getting again to that stage and giving myself the most effective probability to turn into, you realize, among the best gamers once more.
“Not that high 10 is a nasty factor, however, you realize, simply higher than that.”
