Feeling Stagnant, Maria Sakkari Hit the Reset Button With David Witt

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 needs to play the kind of tennis she was enjoying when she reached No.3 on the earth (and reached the BNP Paribas Open last) a couple of 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 12 months.

“I am actually shopping for into the brand new – not the brand new, as a result of we have not actually finished 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 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 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 match 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 would like, as a result of I am very onerous on myself. So I simply want somebody that, you recognize, he does not stress me, and that is what David does very well. Clearly has, you recognize, an unbelievable 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 get pleasure from my time with him on and off the courtroom. He is bonding very well with the remainder of the group, which is a vital factor, as a result of we spend numerous time with one another. You understand, we created a really good group the previous couple of 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, presently No.9 on the earth, 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 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 wish to try 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 would like to alter 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 couple of years, Sakkari replied:

“Somewhat bit, I’d say. Not blaming anybody, in fact, blaming solely myself,” she mentioned. “I simply really feel like simply making an attempt, you recognize, new issues and making an attempt to, you recognize, be higher and enhance, you recognize. I actually consider I’ve a superb likelihood on simply getting again to that degree and giving myself the very best likelihood to turn out to be, you recognize, among the best gamers once more.

“Not that prime 10 is a nasty factor, however, you recognize, simply higher than that.”