"She crossed a bit of a barrier": Maria Sakkari had 'career week' at Indian Wells says Prakash Amritraj and Lindsay Davenport despite defeat

Despite being soundly beaten in the final by Iga Swiatek, Maria Sakkari had one of her best weeks on tour for sometime reaching the final like she did in 2022 albeit with the same result but with a new fire instilled in her at Indian Wells.

Speaking on Tennis Channel, Lindsay Davenport and Prakash Amritraj on the desk said that Sakkari did look a bit flat in the final compared to her previously displays, but that it is was very much a turning point and a hurdle that she crossed. It also marks the first tournament with coach, David Witt who replaced long-time coach, Tom Hill and after a while of not winning a lot, it was a confidence boosting week for the Greek harboured by the new appointment.

"Some of the concern we had over Maria Sakkari was how hard she competed Friday night against Coco Gauff and being up a set and double break and having three match points, finding herself down a break in the third, she competed like we've never seen before. Sometimes you think she's got all this momentum, a lot of the time in an individual sport that leaves you flat. It felt like she was a little bit flat on one of the best attributes that got her to the final in the last two weeks," said Davenport on Tennis Channel.

"She played well in Guadalajara last year, but this was a career week for her. To be able to come through those wins against Navarro and Coco (Gauff) in the manner she did it and be so tough emotionally and mentally I think she crossed a bit of a barrier. She has so much passion and fire in her but that fire can burn you. I think David Witt coming on with his laid back temperament and just speaking to her in that way is paying off early," responded Amritraj.