US OPEN

September 4, 2021

Maria Sakkari

Press Conference

M. SAKKARI/P. Kvitova

6-4, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Could you give us your thoughts on the match and spectacular first week.

MARIA SAKKARI: Yeah, thank you so much for your nice words (smiling).

I think it was a great match. It's always tough to play against Petra, because she hits very hard, probably the hardest on the tour. She's lefty, so it makes your life even tougher.

I was prepared that I'm gonna have to hit out of her rockets, but I'm very pleased with the way I served, the way I returned, and my attitude on court once again.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Just looking forward to your next match against Bianca, you obviously had a tough match in Miami. Just kind of what challenges she poses as an opponent and what you're looking to do in your own game against her.

MARIA SAKKARI: Bianca is one of the toughest players to play on the tour, and I'm prepared that it's gonna be a very, very tough match for both of us, because last time we played each other, it was very close.

I'm just gonna stick to what I'm doing good right now and stay with the same mindset. Just keep believing in myself that I can, you know, go further in this tournament.

Q. You mentioned the match previously against Bianca in Miami. She said that's one of the toughest matches she's ever played. What do you remember most about that match?

MARIA SAKKARI: I don't remember much, because so many things happened in this match, you know, tennis-wise I mean.

As I mentioned before, she's one of the toughest players on the tour, and she has had great results the last couple of years. She was, you know, unlucky to get some injuries, but I'm sure that made her stronger. It's gonna be very tough for both of us. I'm pretty sure about that.

Q. What would you say is the toughest part of her game?

MARIA SAKKARI: Well, we all know that she likes to change the rhythm and the pace of, you know, of the game. She can do most -- she can do everything on the court. She can hit hard, she can play high balls, can slice, can dropshot.

She's experienced because she has won big tournaments.

Q. You know Stef better than pretty much most people on the tour. All that discussion and talk about the bathroom breaks, et cetera, do you think any of that would have played on his mind and had any sort of an effect on him?

MARIA SAKKARI: That's a question that I cannot answer, because I know Stefanos well, but I don't really know what's going on in his mind. Every person is different.

I know that Stefanos doesn't really care what other people say, which is right, because, you know, he's out there to play tennis, not to think of what other people say about him.

I think he's pretty strong mentally, and it's not gonna affect him in the long run. I think that as I said before in the Greek media, I'm pretty sure he doesn't do any of this on purpose. And I said that on a funny way that Stefanos is very intense on the court, but he's very slow in other movements, because I have played with him. I have seen how he -- that's in a good way. I'm not saying that in a bad way that he's slow.

I just want to tell you that he's not a very intense guy with his movements. Like he takes time to take out his racquet and everything. I can see why he's late in the bathroom. I'm 100% sure he doesn't do that on purpose. He has my back on everything, for sure.

Q. In English we use the word "deliberate." He is very precise and takes his time.

MARIA SAKKARI: Yeah, exactly. He likes to take his time. And he always has my support. And as I said, I'm sure that he doesn't do it on purpose.