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 taking part in when she reached No.3 on the 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 have not actually performed 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 online and being aggressive and simply going after my serve,” Sakkari advised 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 advised 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 would like, as a result of I am very exhausting on myself. So I simply want somebody that, you understand, he would not stress me, and that is what David does rather well. Clearly has, you understand, 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 stated, he is so humorous that I simply get pleasure from my time with him on and off the court docket. He is bonding rather well with the remainder of the workforce, which is a vital factor, as a result of we spend numerous time with one another. You understand, we created a really good workforce 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, presently No.9 on the planet, nonetheless has a shot to recapture her former glory – and he or she believes she will.
“I need 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 need 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 talents. Mentally I can enhance, after all, and tennis-wise, it is not like I would like to vary my sport. It is simply that I would like so as to add a few issues.”
Requested if she felt her sport has been stagnant over the previous few years, Sakkari replied:
“A bit of bit, I’d say. Not blaming anybody, after all, blaming solely myself,” she stated. “I simply really feel like simply making an attempt, you understand, new issues and making an attempt to, you understand, be higher and enhance, you understand. I actually imagine I’ve likelihood on simply getting again to that degree and giving myself the perfect likelihood to grow to be, you understand, probably the greatest gamers once more.
“Not that high 10 is a foul factor, however, you understand, simply higher than that.”
#Feeling #Stagnant #Maria #Sakkari #Hit #Reset #Button #David #Witt