World No.8 Maria Sakkari is set to kick off her Australian Open journey today at 2pm against Japanese player Nao Hibino (ranked No. 92).
If she advances to the quarterfinals, she is likely to face the formidable American Coco Gauff, who currently holds the No.3 spot in the world rankings.
Accompanying Maria Sakkari in Australia is said to be Konstantinos Mitsotakis, son of the Greek Prime Minister.
Sakkari shared a selfie with Mitsotakis on social media with a caption that translates to “I love you,” marking her first post of 2024.
It remains unclear whether Mitsotakis has traveled to Melbourne for the Australian Open.
Meanwhile, Stefanos Tsitsipas, ranked No.7 globally, will commence his pursuit tomorrow against Italian player Matteo Berrettini (ranked No.125).
If he progresses, Tsitsipas could potentially face the world No.1, Novak Djokovic, in the quarterfinals.
Challenges Faced by Maria Sakkari: A Candid Revelation
Maria Sakkari opened up about the challenging moments she experienced during the previous season in the second season of the Netflix series “Break Point.”
The 28-year-old Greek tennis star candidly discussed the struggles she faced after reaching the world No.3 ranking in 2022, citing the negative comments on social media as a significant factor.
“Last year everything was going great. I climbed to world No.3, but then there was a decline. I lost my mind a bit; everything happened too quickly. I found myself even close to No.1. I wasn’t ready for that. I started experiencing panic attacks, and there were matches where I couldn’t even breathe. I thought I would faint, and it was not pleasant at all. I found myself in a dark place for about six months. I was mentally and emotionally drained. I feared going onto the court,” Sakkari explained.
Reflecting on the impact of public criticism, she revealed, “I had the whole world saying that when I reach the final stages of a tournament, defeat was inevitable. That gets into your head. I had many tough moments because of it. I looked at myself, and I didn’t like what I saw. Sometimes, I even wanted to end my career, but I haven’t achieved everything I wanted yet. I’m not ready to do that because if I chose to do something else, I wouldn’t feel the same. However, if I continue to lose, maybe [my tennis career] doesn’t make sense.”
Sakkari emphasised the importance of seeking help and working with a psychologist, acknowledging the positive impact on her mental well-being. She expressed her determination to focus on the positive aspects of her life, spending quality time with her family, and embracing opportunities for improvement.
Concluding with an optimistic note, she stated, “We are never finished; no matter the age, we can always get better. We always have opportunities to become better. I am not done yet.”
Tsitsipas reflects on challenges and Grand Slam aspirations
Stefanos Tsitsipas (No.7), currently in Australia for the Australian Open, recently granted an interview to The Guardian, discussing various aspects of his career and personal life.
The Greek tennis player touched upon his ambitious goal of winning a Grand Slam title, highlighting the crucial role of family and revealing that his aunt financially supported him during the economic crisis.
Speaking about his pursuit of a Grand Slam title, Tsitsipas explained, “It’s a combination of body, mind, and soul. All these elements need to align at the right place at the right time. I have the skills, I know how to hit the ball. My body can endure long matches; we’ve already solved that puzzle. The mind is the next stage I need to unlock to achieve seven consecutive wins and win a Slam. When I understand how to defeat top champions in consecutive matches, maybe even 3 or 4 during a single tournament, then everything will come naturally.”
Expressing faith in his abilities, Tsitsipas stated, “I’m a late bloomer; I’m still 25, there is still time. I need to show that I am still here, as Novak does, that I am not finished. I still believe that my old model is beautiful. It’s vintage.”
Reflecting on Novak Djokovic, Tsitsipas acknowledged Djokovic’s continuous improvement and highlighted the difficulty of finding weaknesses in his game.
“There are no excuses; you can’t relax for a moment when you have him against you. It’s hard to find something that can beat him because he combines strategy with simplicity in his game. He doesn’t do overly complicated things.”
When asked if he has learned anything from Djokovic in the 13 matches they’ve played, Tsitsipas remained enigmatic, saying, “Yes, I have analysed our matches quite a bit. We’ll have to wait and see.”
Regarding the past season, Tsitsipas mentioned a strong start reaching the final in Australia, but a shoulder injury led to a loss of self-confidence.
“I wasn’t winning matches like before. There were gaps during the season. Of course, the goal was not to finish the season at No.6; there are bigger things for me than that.”
Tsitsipas also stressed the significant role his family played in his career.
“The greatest strength lies within us. I have faith in my abilities, and I know I can achieve great things,” he said.
Stefanos Tsitsipas reflects on family, tennis journey, and sportsmanship
Stefanos Tsitsipas, the Greek tennis sensation, recently shared insights into his life, family, and the challenges he faced on his journey to becoming a top-ranked player.
In a heartfelt interview, Tsitsipas discussed the crucial role his family played, highlighting the wisdom, patience, and support he received.
Tsitsipas credited his mother for initially guiding him in tennis, saying, “I have learned a lot from my mother because she was more involved in my tennis upbringing than my father initially. She loved me a lot and wasn’t so focused on me becoming a professional tennis player. She knew I could do many things in my life.”
Later on, recognising his talent, Tsitsipas’s father made significant sacrifices, leaving everything behind to support his son’s tennis career.
Despite facing criticism for such a decision during Greece’s economic crisis, Tsitsipas expressed gratitude for his father’s commitment and the risks he took, stating, “I am grateful because without his dedication and the risks he took, I wouldn’t be here now.”
The financial struggles associated with tennis, particularly during a challenging economic period for Greece were another difficulty Tsitsipas faced.
His father encountered hurdles in accessing funds due to banking restrictions, making the journey even more stressful. However, with faith in his abilities, Tsitsipas was determined to provide his parents with a better life.
Financial assistance from his maternal aunt and a family friend, without expecting anything in return, played a pivotal role during this period.
“They desired only the best for me and didn’t view their support as an investment.”
He acknowledged the happiness and joy he now brings to those who helped him, stating, “I saw my aunt last week, and I love her very much.”
Speaking about his mixed doubles partner Paula Badosa, Tsitsipas expressed genuine admiration, saying, “I truly believe she is the right person by my side, and the same goes for her. We laughed a lot in Abu Dhabi, where we reached the final in mixed doubles last month. She has the same seriousness as me on the court.”
While considering teaming up for the Australian Open mixed doubles, Tsitsipas prioritised conserving energy for the singles and doubles events.
Addressing the recent tension with Nick Kyrgios, Tsitsipas clarified that there is no animosity and acknowledged Kyrgios’s uniqueness.
However, he criticised attempts by opponents to disrupt the game by engaging with referees and spectators, stressing the importance of focusing on playing.
Reflecting on a tweet comparing Kyrgios’s behaviour to NBA players, Tsitsipas admitted it was a mistake, clarifying that Kyrgios brings a basketball-like flair to tennis, which he finds acceptable.
“It was a mistake on my part. I highly respect NBA players, and basketball is my favourite sport to watch. Perhaps what I meant is that Kyrgios follows a tradition not commonly seen in tennis. He also tries to bring the basketball attire into tennis, which is not a problem at all, so everything is fine,” Tsitsipas said.
In connection with this, he was also asked about Giannis Antetokounmpo: “Giannis remains a huge inspiration for me. He is the main reason I push myself to become better. I admire his abilities, mindset, and ethics. He has the complete package, and I love him a lot. I wish we could talk more often, but he lives in the USA and travels so much. I know he respects me a lot. I’ve seen it in his eyes. He understands my life very well, and we’ve had many interesting discussions about the mindset needed to be the best you can truly be.
There aren’t many top guys out there who are humble like him. That’s the biggest and most positive thing about him because it’s challenging for such a significant personality to stay grounded. But he’s just like any ordinary person.”
Finally, Stefanos was asked if he feels incomplete without a Grand Slam, concluding with a beautiful comment: “I don’t even think about it. I am a happy person, living a happy life pursuing my dream life. Nothing would be a failure for me.”
