Hey there, fellow tennis enthusiasts It’s your girl Mia Johnson-Carter here, living the dream in Miami. Today, I’m excited to share some news about Maria Sakkari, one of the top players in women’s tennis, and her challenging year in 2024.
Maria Sakkari, a former world No. 3 from Greece, has announced that she will be ending her season early due to a shoulder injury. This decision comes after a tough year filled with familiar woes, including injury and psychological challenges on the court.
Sakkari’s journey this year has been marked by significant setbacks. She missed several key tournaments, including the US Open, where she retired injured after just one set against Wang Yafan. The Greek player also skipped the Guadalajara tournament, where she was supposed to return as the defending champion, and two WTA 1000 events in Beijing and Wuhan.
Despite her best efforts, Sakkari struggled to make a significant impact in Grand Slam tournaments. Her Major results included a second-round showing at the Australian Open, a third-round appearance at Wimbledon, and first-round exits at both the French Open and the US Open. The loss at the French Open was particularly puzzling for Sakkari, as she dominated Varvara Gracheva early in the match before the world No. 67 made a stunning comeback.
Sakkari has openly acknowledged that she has been dealing with psychological problems during major tournaments. In an interview after her loss to Gracheva, she spoke about feeling intense anxiety before the match and admitted that it was purely psychological.
For Sakkari, the key now is to return to full health so she can focus on making big results in 2025. She remains positive about her future in tennis, despite the challenges she faced this year.