Maria Sakkari explains ‘greatest athlete’ Serena Williams’ ‘mind-blowing’ contribution to tennis
Maria Sakkari had met Serena Williams twice on the WTA tour and was tied 1-1 in their head-to-head meetings.
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Maria Sakkari, Serena Williams (Image via X/ESPN, Ubitennis)
Serena Williams, without a shadow of doubt, is one of the best athletes in the world. Maria Sakkari, the tennis ace from Greece spoke highly of Williams on the Tennis Insider Club podcast.
The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion hung up her racket at the 2022 US Open. Sakkari turned pro in 2015 and met Williams twice.
It was Sakkari who upset Williams in the 2020 Cincinnati Open fourth young. But Williams later got her revenge and tied the head-to-record 1-1 by beating the 29-year-old in the fourth round of the US Open the same year.
Sakkari hasn’t yet won a Grand Slam title, and had produced her best performance in the 2021 French Open mad 2021 US Open by reaching the finals. While lauding Williams for making tennis more popular, Sakkari said current players need to “keep it up” as other sports are catching up with tennis.
I think female tennis is in my opinion the number one female sport in the world. We have great ambassadors and I think Serena really helped with that. For me, Serena is the greatest athlete, not just tennis player, that has achieved those things. Mind-blowing things. We all try to win one Slam, she has 23! It’s an incredible number.
Maria Sakkari told Tennis Insider Club Podcast
Sakkari recently played the Miami Open where World No.3 and 2023 US Open champion Coco Gauff ended her campaign in the third round. The World No.64, who was a runner-up in the 2023 and 2024 Indian Wells (lost to World No.2 Iga Swiatek in both the finals), was defeated by Gauff in the third round.
Maria Sakkari wants to get coaching from Jessica Pegula
During the aforementioned podcast, Maria Sakkari was also asked which current player she wanted to add to her entourage for a week. Among the former players, Sakkari picked 22-time Grand Slam singles champion Steffi Graf, but Jessica Pegula was a choice when asked to pick from the active ones.
I think retired I would go with Steffi Graf. Active player I would go with Jess Pegula. I feel like she is very into tactics and stuff, that’s why. I think that’s the case.
Maria Sakkari told Tennis Insider Club Podcast
Pegula came close to lifting her first Miami Open title but World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka prevailed over her in the final in straight sets to her first Sunshine Double singles trophy. The American, before progressing to the Miami Open final, had lifted the ATX Open and reached the Adelaide International final where compatriot Madison Keys denied her the win.
Sakkari has met the 31-year-old 11 times on the tour and is 5-6 in their head-to-head encounter. Before reaching the summit clash, Pegula had eliminated Sakkari from Adelaide International, which was also the last time they faced each other.
Maria Sakkari to meet Qinwen Zheng at the Charleston Open
Maria Sakkari is searching for her first title of the season. She is currently participating at the Charleston Open where she knocked out Marina Stakusic. Sakkari will meet a tough opponent in her next match.
She is pitted against 2024 Paris Olympic gold medalist Qinwen Zheng, who is hoping to end her trophy drought in the tournament as she last lifted a title in October by beating Sofia Kenin in Tokyo. Zheng will be kick-starting her campaign in the tournament against the former World No.3.
Sakkari has met the World No.8 thrice on the WTA tour and holds a 2-1 lead in their head-to-head meetings. In their last encounter in Zhengzhou back in 2023, the Chinese came out on top in three sets.
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