QATAR TOTAL ENERGIES OPEN

February 20, 2022

Maria Sakkari

Flash Interview

Q. Welcome back to Doha. Last year you got to the quarterfinals here. How do you feel about this week?

MARIA SAKKARI: It's great to be back. I really like this tournament. I think the conditions suit me well.

Obviously last year was a tough loss against Muguruza, but, you know, I have great feelings from playing here. I'm excited to be back.

Q. You obviously had a great season last year and got to the final again in St. Petersburg last week. How are you feeling off the back of that? You must have a lot of confidence coming here.

MARIA SAKKARI: I do, yeah. I think it was a great week last week. I had a very tough loss against Anett in the final. I was nearly there, but, you know, some little mistakes caused me, well, actually didn't give me that trophy, but I'm very, very confident that I started the season the way I did, and I'm very happy with the way I'm playing.

Q. As is the way with tennis, you're indoors there, you're outdoors here. How are you finding adapting to the court?

MARIA SAKKARI: Luckily had a few days to recover and to get used to the different conditions between indoor and outdoor and cold and hot. I do prefer the heat, of course, but, you know, I'm a player that can actually adapt really well in different conditions.

I'm actually very excited that from now on it's outdoor season, because all these tournaments ahead are very nice tournaments to play.

Q. It's the first 1000 of the year. Obviously it means there is an incredible field here. Eight of the top 10 are here. How do you feel about this week and who you could be up against?

MARIA SAKKARI: I mean, it's a very tough tournament, you know. I have seen my draw. I have very tough opponents on my part of the draw, but, you know, just as I said, I trust my game and I trust the way I'm playing right now.

So I'm gonna face them no matter what throughout the season, but I'm ready to face them this week.