Maria Sakkari selects a top-ranked American as her ideal coach – "She’s really into tactics"

Monday, 31 March 2025 at 21:16

Maria Sakkari shared which current WTA player she would choose as her coach, selecting one of her American colleagues. The former world No. 3 joined Jasmine Paolini and Elena Rybakina in an insightful discussion on the live Tennis Majors podcast.

Over the past few months, Caroline Garcia has launched her own podcast, Tennis Insiders, featuring several WTA Tour guests. Her latest episode introduced a new format with multiple guests engaging in a group conversation, featuring three of the top names on the women’s circuit.

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The players gathered during the Miami Open to discuss life as professionals and the ‘insiders’ of the tour. Rybakina and Sakkari both exited in the third round—Sakkari losing to Coco Gauff—while Paolini had the best run, reaching the semifinals before falling to eventual champion Aryna Sabalenka.

During the conversation on Tennis Insider Club Podcast, Sakkari was asked if she would consider coaching in the future. "No!" she replied. "I think I would be a very bad coach, to be honest."

Paolini agreed, adding: "I don’t see myself coaching. You never know, but I don’t think so."

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Rybakina, however, left the door open: "I could see myself maybe not traveling full-time with someone, but coaching a junior, an older player, or a professional. Teaching small kids would also be nice, but it’s hard to say what I’ll do in the future."

When asked which player they would want as their coach, Sakkari first picked a legend before choosing one of her current rivals—world No. 4 Jessica Pegula, with whom she has a tight head-to-head record (6-5 in Pegula’s favor).

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"If I had to choose a retired player, I’d go with Steffi Graf," Sakkari said. "For an active player, I’d go with Jess Pegula. I feel like she’s really into tactics, so that’s why."

Meanwhile, Paolini had an easy answer: "Me? Rafa [Nadal], definitely."

Rybakina, however, wasn’t so sure: "I have no idea, that’s a tough one."

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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