WTA FINALS

November 11, 2021

Maria Sakkari

Press Conference

M. SAKKARI/I. Swiatek

6-2, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Maria, can you walk us through your match earlier today, what your thoughts are on your performance out there on court.

MARIA SAKKARI: Yeah, I think it was a very solid match from my side. Obviously my serve really helped my game. I felt quite good with the altitude. I could control my shots pretty well. I think every day I'll feel even better.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. What do you feel to be the first woman Greek tennis player to qualify for the WTA Finals and to reach the top 10?

MARIA SAKKARI: I mean, it's a great honor. I'm very proud that I can be the first woman, Greek woman, to actually represent my country into the top 10 and of course in this tournament.

It feels amazing to be able to travel around the world playing these tournaments, being one of the best players, and being from my country. I'm very, very proud of that.

Q. At the end of the match, with Iga having some emotions, you taking the time to give her a hug, showing you cared, is that something that's easy to do, to switch out of that competitive mindset, to care about another individual?

MARIA SAKKARI: I mean, yeah, more than anything we're human. Okay, it's another tennis match. She's only 20 years old. She's going to have many more chances than I'll have in the future because it's only the beginning for her.

I saw that she was struggling. It wasn't a nice thing to see from the other side of the net. She's a very, very nice girl. I mean, we always have great practices and great chats.

It was something natural. It wasn't something that I did it just for people to see that I'm a good person or anything. I could see that she was struggling, yeah, just felt like doing it, so...

Q. Have you ever worked with a sports psychologist? If so, when did you start, why did you start, and what has been the greatest value in that?

MARIA SAKKARI: Well, I've been working with a psychologist for years and a sports psychologist the last year. I invested a lot in that. It's probably the best gift I've ever done to myself.

Outside and inside the court, it has made me a better person in both parts of my life. It has helped me so much. As I said, it's probably the best decision I've done, both of them.

Q. What is the most important thing that the psychologist has taught you?

MARIA SAKKARI: Obviously I cannot tell much, but it's just finding ways of being nice to yourself, actually just finding the right way of being positive and actually caring less about all the negative thoughts around tennis.

That's the way that I've been working with her. It has actually helped me so much.

Q. I know you don't like to talk about tactics, but this is your third victory against Iga in very different conditions. Do you think your game suits to her and makes her problems?

MARIA SAKKARI: I think probably my game suits -- I actually have a good game to play against her. All three times I played her, I played one of the best matches of the season. Like even today, I think I was very solid in these conditions.

Of course, I'm not going to tell you what I've been discussing with my coach. I feel like most of the times when I go and play against a player, we have the right game plan. If they get to beat me, it's because they were the better player.

Q. It's been a long season. How hard is it to summon the energy for a tournament like this? It's not lose and go home. You know you're playing at least three matches.

MARIA SAKKARI: Well, yeah, it's kind of late in the season right now. We've been very clever with Tom and the rest of my team on getting the right amount of rest before every tournament, having many training blocks throughout the season. Even before coming here, I had six days off from tennis, which was something that I really needed.

It's just a matter of scheduling it the right way.

Q. What's going on with Greece in this moment, with you and Stefanos having success in tennis? What has been done in a different way from athletes from your country?

MARIA SAKKARI: It's probably the biggest moment of tennis in Greece right now, having two players in the top 10, two of the best players in the world. It's actually very, very good for tennis in Greece. Tennis is growing very fast. It's a sport where everyone loves no matter what the age is.

I think we're both very proud that we have achieved that. Tennis in Greece has been so big the last two years because of us.

Q. How popular is tennis right now in your country? Is it number one or in top three?

MARIA SAKKARI: I'd say number three after football and basketball. It's pretty popular.

Q. Your first serve numbers today were ridiculous: 26 out of 27 first serve points won. What was it that was working so well? The fact that you served so well, is that a product of you recognizing that you need to serve well in this environment because playing off the ground is more tricky?

MARIA SAKKARI: Yeah, I think finding the right way of serving here, it's probably the key. You set up a point the way you want to. Definitely, I mean, having a percentage like that helps your game so much.

I couldn't feel that on court. I could feel that I was serving well, but I couldn't feel like it was that well. It's just that it gives you confidence. You win so many cheap points and easy points. It makes your life easier.