MUTUA MADRID OPEN

May 2, 2021

Maria Sakkari

Press Conference

M. SAKKARI/A. Kontaveit

6-3, 6-1

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Can you take us through a little bit of your match? Looks like things worked very well for you out there today against Anett.

MARIA SAKKARI: Yeah, thanks. I think, you know, I'm just getting used to the clay again, because obviously Stuttgart is indoors. So I got here a little earlier than usual. Just wanted to do well here for the first time.

I mean, I have two wins already, and I think today was very solid from every, you know, aspect. I think I served well. Strategy-wise it worked really well, and I have nothing to complain about basically (smiling).

Q. You have had a nice rivalry with Anett over the years. Is there anything that particularly she does that brings out some of your best tennis?

MARIA SAKKARI: I mean, she's an extremely good player. We are great friends outside the court. It's always tough to play her, but I think I have played her the most out of every other WTA player.

I mean, she has an overall good game. She plays good from both sides from the baseline, and you just have to stick to the strategy and, you know, try to do things the right way.

Q. I noticed when you were interviewed on court after the match, you acknowledged the importance of having fans there, especially from your home country in Greece. Can you elaborate on that, what it means to be able to play in a big tournament like this with fans supporting you?

MARIA SAKKARI: It's great. It's great to have some people back. Even though it's not a packed court, at least you feel like we are slowly getting back to reality. That's the most important thing for everyone.

Also for the fans and for the players and for everyone involved in the tournament, you feel like, God, we're slowly, slowly getting there. And of course, you know, having people supporting you is, I mean, that's why you're playing tennis, to be on the big stage, you know, just getting that support from everyone.

Q. You have Karolina Muchova in the next round. Your thoughts on your upcoming match.

MARIA SAKKARI: Yeah, I mean, I'm sure that, you know, we haven't played already but she has been playing really good this year and last year, as well.

It's gonna be a very tough match. I still haven't really thought about it yet, because I have a day off. As always, I want to enjoy the day today and think about it from tomorrow.

But for sure it's going to be a battle because she's a very, very good player.