Sakkari: "I trust the process, I want to return to where I was"
Although the season has not started well for her, the Greek player believes that things will change with the arrival of the clay court season. She already has one victory in Charleston.
It has been a while since Maria Sakkari stopped being a fixed player in the top 10. In fact, many thought that wasn't her place, not knowing the tremendous effort needed to get there. Today, the Greek woman is entirely different, but I'm not referring to having a negative balance this year (7-9) or being outside the top 60. I'm talking about the lessons she has learned after getting injured for the first time in her career and spending four months away from the circuit. After overcoming the first round at the WTA 500 Charleston (6-3, 6-2 vs Stakusic), the Greek player analyzed her personal moment on the Tennis Channel.
Debut with victory
"I didn't start well, in the early games, I was a bit passive, as if I lacked intensity. Let's say I wasn't playing my best tennis, I came with the intention of doing better than in the last two tournaments, and maybe that affected me. I still think I'm far from the level I can offer, but I believe a lot in the process, I have no choice but to keep working hard. In this match, for example, many good things happened to me after being 0-3 down in the first set, so I won't complain; then, in the second set, everything was better."
Between physical and mental
"Almost all matches have a mental and physical test, and this one has been no exception. In my case, I've always considered myself a great athlete; I've always believed I can endure out there for as long as necessary. I love constructing points and being solid from the baseline, no matter if I'm tired, even exhausted. Starting now with the clay court season will be crucial, where players with a plan and more tactical support have a certain advantage. At the same time, you also have to be aggressive; you can't have the passivity I showed in the first three games today. Luckily, I realized it and managed to handle it in time."
Her athletic condition
"Usually, when I've had a bit more pressure on, or when I've created higher expectations, that's when my body has suffered. Suddenly, you feel like you move slower, your body becomes heavy, although sometimes it's also due to the heat. Everyone reacts differently to these factors, so it's best not to have high expectations, no matter what your ranking is. This is something I've been learning over the years; you notice that you handle it better each time, although there will always be days when you don't."
Dip in recent months
"Things haven't gone very well since the last Olympics, where I suffered an injury that accompanied me for the following months. I admit I made a mistake trying to continue playing tournaments, like at the US Open, for instance, where I got injured again for rushing. In the end, the smartest thing was to take a breath, take a break from the circuit, and not return until the next season. It was a good decision to step back a bit from tennis, but my ranking has suffered for it, so now I have to face tougher draws. I believe a lot in my abilities; I'm convinced I can return to where I was, I just need time. I've experienced the first injury of my career, I've always been healthy, so these past months have brought new experiences."
Lessons after stepping away from the tour
"I've learned to live a somewhat more normal life, like any human being, for example, spending time with my friends, who I never had many moments to see. I've matured during this time; now I see things much clearer, both on and off the court. That extra time is very necessary because when you're traveling the circuit, you don't have time to reflect; it's all pressure, tensions, and a lot of stress. You just go from country to country without stopping a moment to decompress all the accumulated pressure. It's tough, but I don't want to complain because, at the end of the day, we have a life full of privileges and comforts, but I confess that from time to time, this disconnection is good to savor life a bit more."
A happy person
"I feel happier now than before the break. It's true that I had three fantastic years; I reached very high in the rankings, but every week was the same as the previous one; I only had two weeks to pause in the preseason, and even at that moment, there wasn't enough time to decompress all the tension or assimilate everything achieved. Now, having been away for a few months, I've realized everything I've accomplished in my career, so I'm going to work to return to that place. Even if it takes time, it's okay, I believe a lot in the process."
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Sakkari: “Confío en el proceso, quiero volver al lugar en el que estuve”