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 enjoying when she reached No.3 on this planet (and reached the BNP Paribas Open closing) just a few years in the past, and he or she’s headed in the precise 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 have not actually completed any adjustments, however simply attempting to play the way in which I performed two years in the past after I had an excellent run, simply going to the web and being aggressive and simply going after my serve,” Sakkari instructed reporters this week within the BNP Paribas Open press room.
“Simply being courageous, principally. 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 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 instructed 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 does not stress me, and that is what David does rather well. Clearly has, , an unimaginable 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 mentioned, he is so humorous that I simply get pleasure from my time with him on and off the courtroom. He is bonding rather well with the remainder of the staff, which is an important factor, as a result of we spend plenty of time with one another. You understand, we created a really good staff the previous few days.”
Maria Sakkari survives Emma Navarro with a 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 win in nearly three hours to succeed in the semifinals in Indian Wells for the third consecutive 12 months.
Runner up in 2022Semifinalist in 2023Semifinalist* in 2024
ninth 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 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 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 try this. I simply really feel like I’ve the athletic talents. Mentally I can enhance, after all, and tennis-wise, it is not like I want to vary my recreation. It is simply that I want so as to add a few issues.”
Requested if she felt her recreation has been stagnant over the previous few years, Sakkari replied:
“Slightly bit, I might say. Not blaming anybody, after all, blaming solely myself,” she mentioned. “I simply really feel like simply attempting, , new issues and attempting to, , be higher and enhance, . I actually consider I’ve likelihood on simply getting again to that degree and giving myself the most effective likelihood to change into, , top-of-the-line gamers once more.
“Not that prime 10 is a foul factor, however, , simply higher than that.”
