"In the top 10 for obvious reasons": Leylah Fernandez lauds Maria Sakkari ahead of United Cup meeting on Wednesday
WTAMonday, 01 January 2024 at 07:00
Canada’s tennis star Leylah Fernandez has heaped praise on
Greece’s Maria Sakkari ahead of her clash at the United Cup.
The 21-year-old defeated Daniela Seguel in her first outing in
the competition in the group stage with a score of 6-2, 6-3. Fernandez was quoted
in a report where she heaped praise on the 28-year-old who is going to be her
next opponent.
“I think against Sakkari, it’s going to be a tough match,” she
said. “She’s a great player, in the top 10 for obvious reasons, and I think I’m
just going to talk with my captain, coaches and see what I need to do to help
team Canada with the win.”
Talking about her performance, Fernandez stated that she was pretty satisfied with how she played in the opening round fixture.
“It was a good win from my part, a lot of nerves in the
beginning, first match of the season is never easy, especially after a very
good pre-season, and I wanted to show what I’ve been working on and what I’ve
been doing well,” she said.
“But at the same time, you’ve got to kind of control that
emotion and keep it at bay, and I think I did well to try and maintain that and
just enjoy my time on court, trying new things, going to the net and it worked
out today.”
Azeem Siddiqui is a seasoned sports journalist and data analyst with a strong background in both digital media and live sports production.
He began his journalism career working with partners of The New York Times and has since contributed to several leading international sports publications, including Fox Sports Asia, Calciomercato, and GiveMeSport. Since 2023, Azeem has been part of the TennisUpToDate team, where he has played a key role in sustaining the platform’s growth and ensuring tennis fans receive timely and reliable coverage of the sport’s biggest stories.
In addition to his editorial work, Azeem has extensive experience as a data analyst in live sports broadcasting—particularly in cricket—where he combines analytical precision with creative storytelling. He has collaborated with multiple production companies and cricket boards worldwide, delivering real-time insights and data-driven narratives during live match coverage.
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