© Getty Images Sport – Clive Brunskill
World No 9 Maria Sakkari declared the 2023 season as “the toughest of my career” and admitted that she “does not know” how she managed to finish the year ranked inside the top-10. Sakkari, 28, concluded her WTA Finals campaign with a 0-3 record after Jessica Pegula handed her a 6-3 6-2 loss on Thursday.
Following three losses in Cancun, Sakkari finished her season with a 38-25 record. This year was pretty challenging and rough at times for Sakkari, who had just two wins on the Grand Slam level. After suffering a shock US Open first-round loss and breaking down in tears afterward, Sakkari won her first WTA 1000 title in Guadalajara.
The Guadalajara win was the brightest moment of Sakkari’s 2023 season and her lone title this year. Sakkari then made the WTA Finals as an alternate following Karolina Muchova’s withdrawal.
Sakkari reflects on her year, vows to work hard in the offseason
“I really believe this was the toughest season of my career.
I don’t want to be hard on myself. I’m actually very proud of myself that I managed to finish in the top 10 for the third time in a row. I really don’t know how I did it. I’m being deadly honest. After the…
