"I never thought I was gonna be as good as I am today": Maria Sakkari says it is never too late to dream big amid 'late breakthrough'
WTA
Maria Sakkari gave motivation as a constant factor in her career during her recent stint in Mexico for the Caroline Wozniacki exhibition. The Greek ace who won in Guadalajara cited her own late breakthrough and said that it is never too late.
Sakkari told people to dream big and that you never know when your big breakthrough is going to come. Despite only winning two titles in her career which has been well documented, the Greek said that she did not expect to have the success she has had where she has become one of the most consistent players on the tour.
Returning back to Mexico after winning in Guadalajara albeit then having a disappointing time in Cancun at the WTA Finals, she continued that it is also down to the team you have around with Tom Hill being her long-time coach for instance and despite adversity, she has not chopped and changed.
“You always have to dream big. You have to follow your dreams. You have to believe in yourself. Work hard. Just never give up because great things can happen," she said to TV Azteca Deportes.
"My breakthrough came very late in my career. I never thought I was going to be as good as I am today. But because I kept working & putting in the hours, it got me to a point where I’m considered one of the best players right now. For me, that means you have to follow your dreams. You have to keep believing in yourself. Surround yourself with people who believe in you. Surround yourself with good people.”
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
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