“We can build something very good” – resurgent Sakkari flourishing under Witt’s guidance
Sakkari is enjoying a fine run at the BNP Paribas Open under new coach David Witt. She will take on Iga Swiatek in a rematch of their 2022 final on Saturday
Maria Sakkari competes at 2024 Indian Wells Zuma / Panoramic
It has been a difficult twelve months for Maria Sakkari.
2023 was perhaps her most disappointing season to date, as she failed to make it past the third round of a Grand Slam, falling in the first round at three out of the four majors after making the last 32 at the Australian Open.
Sakkari did win her maiden 1000-level title in Guadalajara in September, just under a month after a first-round loss at the US Open had left her in tears. It was a remarkable turnaround and a milestone achievement for the Greek, one that essentially everyone in the tennis world was happy to see materialise.
Sadly, this result was more of an anomaly in a frustrating season than it was a sign of real progress. Sakkari’s mixed results continued for the rest of the season and, alarmingly, spilled over into the new year as she opened up her 2024 campaign with a 2-4 win-loss record over the first two months of the season, again crashing out early in Melbourne as she struggled for any momentum.
With the arrival of March, however, came a fresh start and a new coaching partnership with David Witt – a collaboration that is showing very exciting early promise.
The change in results alone has been striking, as Sakkari has put together her best run since winning the title in Guadalajara – a result that remains her greatest career achievement.
indian wells run evidence of a successful coaching change for sakkari
The world No 9 has powered her way through to her tenth WTA final at the BNP Paribas Open – beating Coco Gauff in the semis – after struggling to string together consecutive wins in the weeks prior to the tournament. It is her fourth 1000-level final and a repeat of the 2022 final at Indian Wells, where she will again cross swords with world No 1 Iga Swiatek in southern California’s showpiece match.
“No. Straightforward no,” was Sakkari’s instant reply when asked whether she would have won the same match with Gauff six months ago.
While the uptick in results has been remarkable, what is most promising for Sakkari is her change in mindset on the match court. She looks considerably more at ease with herself, calmly restoring the blistering brand of tennis that led her to a French Open semi-final in 2021.
Sakkari has already spoken about Witt’s calming influence, and that seems to be extending to her demeanour on court. The tension, pressure and frustration that defined Sakkari’s tennis over the past year has dissipated into the thin desert air as a fresh perspective has freed up the Greek’s unquestionable talent.
I think together we can build something very good.
Sakkari on new coach, David Witt
While the impact of Witt’s tutelage is evident, Sakkari explained that it was never the plan for him to build her game up from scratch. It was more a case of having a new voice in her team, and forming a relationship built on frank honesty – a plan that has clearly paid dividends.
“We always say in tennis one day can change everything, but a month ago I was in Abu Dhabi, I couldn’t hit a ball over the net, and now I’m just here in one of the biggest tournaments playing another final,” Sakkari continued.
“It’s always challenging to, you know, change coach. It’s not the middle of the season, but we’re three months in. And of course, that is our first tournament. I think we are doing pretty well (smiling).
“Just as I said in my previous press conferences, that he was never going to come in and change things. I knew that he was going to come in, just we were going to work on things like we did those days, and it’s just going to get better.
“I’m just going to keep being very honest with him with what I need to work on and he’s going to be honest with me.
“I think together we can build something very good.”
Sakkari will face the biggest challenge in women’s tennis when she takes on Swiatek for the Indian Wells title on Saturday.
Two years ago in the final, she was swept aside by the world No 1 as the Pole was just setting out on her scintillating 37-match unbeaten run.
24 months later, it feels not a huge amount has changed in this match up. Swiatek will again be the heavy favourite.
What has changed for Sakkari, however, is that she has recently received a new lease of life as a result of what looks to be a fruitful new coaching partnership.
The Sakkari of the last twelve months would have been looking at this final and fearing the worst. But now, she will see Saturday’s showpiece as a golden opportunity to send a powerful statement to the rest of the tour and reaffirm her status as one of the world’s elite.
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