Maria Sakkari has reflected on her semi-final loss last year after defeating Clara Burel 6-2 6-3 in her opening match.
The world number four was triumphant in her opening match over the world number 95 in straight sets.
Sakkari was broken twice but found a way to win against the resilient Frenchwoman in 90 minutes.
After seeing Felix Auger-Aliassime battle in five sets and Ons Jabeur’s early exit, Sakkari said seeing those matches actually was a stress reliever, “I think that it kind of like it worked for me the opposite way,” Sakkari said about the two matches before her.
“I had more time just to find ways to release my stress. Yeah, there was always going to be stress, because that’s the way in a slam. But as I said, I had more time. My best friends are here, so I had a chat with them, which really helped me get distracted.
“Obviously my team always tries to make me laugh before a match, and I think that I have a very nice atmosphere around me in this tournament. I’m very glad, you know, how everything went today.”
Sakkari would have been relieved to get through her match after shock results earlier in the day.
The Greek reached the semi-finals last year before a painful defeat to eventual champion Barbora Krejcikova.
In her post match press conference the world number four reflected on last year’s experience and thinks it’s given her more belief to achieve better results in the future, “You know, it was a very nice experience last year, but it’s already a year ago, so I don’t really think about what happened in 2021,” Sakkari admitted.
“I started, I have said many times, believing more in myself after what happened here, and I said it so many times as well, this is my favourite tournament, it is my favourite court.”
Next for Sakkari will be former grand slam quarter-finalist Karolina Muchova who has just returned from injury.
Sakkari admitted it will be a difficult match but believes in her game to get the victory, “Especially in Grand Slams, she has been having amazing results. I know it’s one of the toughest second rounds that I could have faced,” Sakkari said.
“She’s a very tricky player, because she has variety in her game. But as I said, I think that my game is going to be even better for the next match. I trust my abilities and my game overall. So I think I’m just going to go out there and enjoy one more day here at Roland Garros.”
Wednesday’s meeting will be the third meeting between the two with the head-to-head series being tied at 1-1.
Although Muchova won their last meeting after winning 7-5 in the third in Madrid last year.
