Maria Sakkari has become the latest player to speak about the downfalls of having two WTA 1000 events extended to two weeks following her latest win at the Italian Open on Sunday.
Sakkari, who is the fifth seed in Rome, booked her place in the fourth round with a 7-6(4), 6-0, win over Anhelina Kalinina. It is her 62nd Tour-level victory on a clay court which pushes her closer to breaking the Open Era record for a Greek player which is 66. That record is held by Sakkari’s mother Angeliki Kanellopoulou.
The run comes during what has been an encouraging clay season so far for the world No.8 who reached the semi-finals in Charleston and the fourth round in Madrid. She is coached by David Witt who is the former mentor of Jessica Pegula.
“Things changed for me in Indian Wells,” said Sakkari.
“I just felt like, Okay, another final. Then went to Miami, (reached) another quarter. Charleston, semis.
“I just felt like there was a consistency which I like because I feel like that’s what’s going to take me to my level where I’m going to hopefully win a big title. That’s what I’m looking for right now.
“I would say things are in a good way, and that’s what makes me very happy on the court.”
Rome is the second WTA 1000 event in a row and follows immediately after Madrid. Both of these events now take place over two weeks after organisers opted to extend the draw. Supporters of the move argue that players have more time off between matches.
However, Sakkari admits the format can be ‘tough’ on her, as well as other players, as they have less downtime outside of tournaments. She also believes it lessens the chance of a player winning both clay titles within the same season. Something Andrey Rublev and Iga Swiatek are aiming to do this year.
“I think it’s tougher now that it’s two weeks. Maybe we (the players) do get more days off, but especially if you’re from overseas and you’re from Europe…“ she said.
“For example, I had a few days between Madrid and Rome. I had the chance to go home. Some people cannot do that. They just stay at the tournament. It’s just another hotel. You’re going to the site every day. It can get a little bit too much. I find it very tough, and I see a lot of retirements.”
Although during the third month of every season, Indian Wells and Miami take place over the same amount of days and are back-to-back. Very few players raise concerns about those events compared to the European swing.
“I think no one complains about Indian Wells-Miami because it’s been like that at least since I started playing those tournaments,” Sakkari explains.
“I’m sure it can get tough. If you don’t have a base in the U.S. – I’m lucky that my boyfriend lives there – so I can visit him and it’s going to feel like home. At the same time, there are a lot of Europeans I know that would lose, fly back to Europe, and come back for Miami.
“It’s decisions that unfortunately we cannot make, we cannot change, and we have to I guess accept, even if we don’t like them.”
Sakkari is aiming to reach her fifth WTA 100 final in Rome and her first on clay.
