“It’s been a challenging year” – Sakkari draws her 2024 season to a close

Greek Maria Sakkari has drawn her 2024 season to a close. She made the announcement on Tuesday citing shoulder injury woes and vowed to return for the Australian Open scheduled for January 2025.

Sakkari hasn’t been competing on the WTA Tour ever since quitting her first-round match against China’s Wang Yafan midway (trailing 6-2) at the US Open in August this year due to a shoulder injury, which seems to be troubling her to date.

“For the last few weeks, my main focus has been on recovering from my shoulder injury,” Sakkari wrote on social media. “Unfortunately, due to this, I will have to end my season earlier than planned. I will be back stronger and pain-free. Thank you all for your support. It’s been a challenging year, but it has taught me a lot as well. See you soon in Australia.”

Began 2024 as world No 8, Sakkari now sits outside Top 20

Sakkari was the world No 8 at the turn of the year and improved two places in the WTA singles ranking in April. However, it’s been a downward spiral since then as the Greek now ranks outside Top 20.

The world No 22 began her season by representing Greece at the United Cup alongside compatriot Stefanos Tsitsipas, helping the side to quarter-finals. A couple of weeks later, she, seeded eighth, suffered a second-round loss to Armenian Elina Avanesyan (6-4, 6-4) at Australian Open.

In March, Sakkari impressed with a runner-up finish in Indian Wells, losing to Pole Iga Swiatek (6-4, 6-0) in the final. She then earned a quarter-finalist finish in Miami after going down against Kazakh Elena Rybakina (7-5, 6-7 (4), 6-4).

The 29-year-old then produced runs to the Round of 16 in Madrid and Rome, followed by a disheartening result in the first round of French Open (lost 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 to Varvara Gracheva in first round). In July, Wimbledon saw her reach the third round, where she, seeded ninth, went down to home hope Emma Raducanu (6-2, 6-3).

Sakkari then skipped the WTA 1000 events in Canada, Cincinnati, Beijing, and Wuhan before ending her season.

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