Maria Sakkari suffered a surprising defeat in the first round against Rebeka Masarova, marking her fourth consecutive loss in Grand Slams.
The Greek player entered as the 8th seed but once again experienced a disappointing first-round loss. Her opponent was the Spanish world No. 71, Rebeka Masarova, who has experienced a significant rise this year, entering the top 100 for the first time earlier in the year.
Sakkari explained her feelings during the match and expressed her disappointment when speaking to her country's network SDNA:
"Maybe, I need to take a break. I am suffering on the court but I can't make a decision right now. My mind isn't clear and it's difficult," Sakkari said.
“I was nervous, but I started well. It's not that I was tight, I don't know what's wrong with me. I was up 4-1, I wasn't playing great, but I did what I had to do. I continued to have anxiety, but it's not like I lost my mind. I can not explain it. It's very unpleasant for me," she added.
“I am constantly trying to improve myself, in different ways. Maybe I need more time to get to where I want to be. I don't leave it to him and that's why I'm upset. I really feel like I'm making a lot of effort, especially in the psychological part. It's not just sitting and waiting to get better. I'm really working on it and I'm sure I've chosen the right person. I guess I need time."
“It's not a lack of effort, for sure. I don't know, there is uncertainty now, I don't know what I will do. If I'm going to take a break or not," she concluded.
The Greek player is currently ranked world No. 8, although this week's results could potentially cause her ranking to drop. Sakkari will return to tournaments at the WTA 500 San Diego Open.
Maria Sakkari told SDNA she may need to take a break. "Maybe, I need to take a break. I am suffering on the court but I can't make a decision right now. My mind isn't clear and it's difficult". "I'm constantly trying to improve... Maybe I need more time to reach where I want to…
