Despite giving her all, Maria Sakkari keeps struggling with her tennis results. Following her first-round loss at the US Open, feeling helpless and heartbroken, the world No.8 gave an honest admission to Greek portal Sports DNA that she may need to take a break.
Now on a four-match losing streak at Grand Slams, the 28-year-old Sakkari says that she’s working a lot, but the results are just not there:
I really feel like I’m making a lot of effort, especially in the psychological part. I’m not just sitting and waiting to get better. I guess I need time.
Despite an early 4-1 lead against Rebeka Masarova in the first round of the US Open, the Greek player crashed out in straight sets.
After the end of the first set, the nervous Sakkari felt embarrassed and asked her team to leave the court:
I felt bad, I feel like I’m embarrassing them. They didn’t do anything to me, they were perfect.
Having lost her openers at Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open this year, Sakkari tearfully told the press that she doesn’t know what’s wrong with her and that she may distance herself from competition:
Maybe I should take a break, I am suffering on the court. But I can’t make a decision now. My mind isn’t clear.
She needs to develop more variety in her game. She is strong and consistent but she doesn’t seem to read the game that well and just does the same thing with everyone and waits for them to make a mistake. Caroline Wozniacki syndrome.