Maria Sakkari refuses her post-match interview at the Japan Open, instead pays tribute to Misaki Doi upon her retirement on home soil

Classy Maria Sakkari gives Misaki Doi the deserved recognition in her last professional match of the career.

Maria Sakkari refuses her post-match interview at the Japan Open, instead pays tribute to Misaki Doi upon her retirement on home soil

Misaki Doi and Maria Sakkari (Credits: Tennis 365)

Greek World No.6 Maria Sakkari shows her class as she refuses to take her post-match interview after beating the unseeded Japanese player Misaki Doi as the latter is playing her last match of her professional career on home soil. Sakkari started her Japan Open campaign in quite a style though, taking care of the retiring Japanese in straight sets: 6-3, 6-1.

The 32-year-old southpaw from Japan has had a decent career with one WTA title. She had a career-high ranking of 30. It was in October 2016 that she had her career-best ranking. The Japanese star was expected to be a bigger star than now but injuries had given setbacks to her career.

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Maria Sakakri showed her class by saying in the post-match interview, “It was an honor for me to play against Misaki in her last professional match. You deserve to enjoy life, enjoy yourself, have some fun. We know how tough tennis life is. Take some time and I am sure you will find something special again in your life. I don’t want to talk about myself today. Thank you.”

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Also Read: Andy Murray smashes his racket in frustration as Alex de Minaur saves three match points to knock the Briton out of China Open

Maria Sakkari will face Caroline Garcia in the next round

Though Sakkari has had an easier outing in the first round, the third round (quarter-finals) is going to be a tough contest as fifth seed Caroline Garcia awaits the Greek star. Garcia made it through to the third round after a routine win over the Ukrainian unseeded player Anhelina Kalinina. The final score of Garcia’s second round win was 6-4, 6-3.

Caroline Garcia and Maria Sakkari (Credits: Free Betting Tips)
Caroline Garcia and Maria Sakkari (Credits: Free Betting Tips)

29-year-old and World No.10 Caroline Garcia has a 3-2 head-to-head advantage over the current World No.6 Maria Sakkari. The 28-year-old is comparatively in a better form than Garcia so the odds are a bit favoring the Greek star as of now. Whoever wins the quarter-finals is expected to meet the American World No.4 Jessica Pegula.

Polish World No.1 Iga Swiatek is still in the draw and is expected to make the finals here. Swiatek’s part of the draw is opened up and hthe highest seed on her route to the finals is Russian World No.19 Veronika Kudermetova.

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