"What she has achieved, everyone knows she's amazing": Maria Sakkari shares admiration for Martina Navratilova
WTA
Maria
Sakkari (No. 9) expressed her admiration for tennis legend Martina Navratilova
after another victory at Indian Wells. The Greek player is having her best
tournament of the season so far after some inconsistent months that saw her
drop out of the top 10 a couple of weeks ago.
Despite
entering as the 9th seed, Sakkari probably wasn't one of the favorites to
advance many rounds, as she hadn't won consecutive matches since the China Open
in October 2023, where she fell in the quarterfinals to Coco Gauff after
defeating Linda Fruhvirtova and Xinyu Wang.
Sakkari is
enjoying her good form at Tennis Paradise and was seen sharing a joyful moment
with the 18-times Grand Slam champion Martina Navratilova a few days ago. In a
press conference after defeating Diane Parry (6-2, 3-6, 6-3), Sakkari was asked
about her relationship with the former world No. 1:
“You know,
I admire [Navratilova] so much," Maria Sakkari said. "She's a very
cool person. What she has achieved, I'm not even going to mention, because it's
pointless right now. Everyone knows she's amazing," the former
world No. 3 added.
"I
just feel like having [Martina Navratilova] around, and she gave me a couple of
tips back in the day. It's nice, because she really cares about us, and cares
about women's tennis," Maria Sakkari claimed.
The
28-year-old tennis player also praised Chris Evert, Navratilova's greatest
rival during their careers, who also boasts 18 Grand Slam titles: "Yeah,
it's nice to have her around. [Evert], as well. All of the legends that are
involved are, you know, very, very good people above everything," she
added.
Sakkari's
next challenge will be against the surprising Emma Navarro (23rd seed), who
quietly reached her first WTA 1000 quarterfinals and recorded notable victories
over the 16th seed Elina Svitolina and none other than the world No. 2 Aryna
Sabalenka.
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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