Maria Sakkari admits fatigue of Coco Gauff clash played a factor in Swiatek loss: "Maybe things would have been different"

Greece’s tennis star Maria Sakkari has stated that the tough semifinal win over America’s Coco Gauff played a role in her defeat to the world number one Iga Swiatek in the final of the Indian Wells.

The 28-year-old lost to the Polish tennis star in the final of the WTA 1000 event in straight sets with a score of 6-4, 6-0.

Sakkari was quoted in a report where she stated that the length of the semifinal against Gauff was one of the reasons why she could not produce the kind of performance she wanted to in the all-important finale.

"I don’t want to disrespect Coco, but it would’ve been amazing if this match was over an hour ago," she said. "I don't think she was trying anything different. Yeah, I think I was a little bit tired, I have to say.

“Not that it's an excuse. I'm not saying that. She still played very good. You know, probably maybe things would have been different for me, like, the way I felt on the court if my previous match didn't go, you know, as long as it went. You know, that's why it's important to close out matches when you have to.”

Sakkari defeated Gauff in three sets with a score of 6-4, 6-7, 6-2. The game lasted two hours and 41 minutes. In comparison, Swiatek ended up winning her semifinal against Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk in just one hour and nine minutes.