'It’s going to sound a bit cocky...': Maria Sakkari says players don't want her as first round draw as Rome revival gathers steam

Maria Sakkari took down Belinda Bencic albeit through a retirement for the Swiss ace in the second set after the Greek had seen off Maja Chwalinska in three sets to book her spot in the main draw at the Rome Open earlier this week.

For Sakkari, a former World No.3, a WTA 1000 champion and a former member of the elite, it is a drop that has seen her have to play qualifying. She had to curtail most of her 2024 season and has had to turn to Tom Hill, her former coach for answers.

Answers he seems to be providing with the Brit sealing their best respective success together. Hill went on to coach Peyton Stearns but ironically the American has since had an upturn like Sakkari after the split.

But she is open about her predicament but also remains confident and steadfast in her mission that no-one wants to play her especially on form but on a surface she likes.

“If I want to get back to the Top 10, I have to face some challenges, and I have to accept the fact that I’ll have to go through some qualies,” she said. “I was obviously disappointed that the tournament didn’t give me a wild card, but at the same time, I think it was a good thing to play qualies just to help me accept the situation I’m in right now with my ranking.”

She said that she also went up to Naomi Osaka and gave her respect for entering and winning Saint Malo. A Challenger which has also been followed in route by Bianca Andreescu and even Leylah Fernandez.

On the search for form, Sakkari may need it herself in the future but with confidence up, she now faces Magda Linette for a spot in the third round aiming to recapture her old magic.

“I went up to her yesterday and said to her, ‘I respected you before, but now I respect you even more that you’re a four-time Grand Slam champion playing a 125 in Saint-Malo. Respect.”

“It’s going to sound a bit cocky, but a lot of players don’t want to play me in the first round. Not just because I came through qualies but because I’ve played some good matches, I’m feel good with my game. It’s the same as playing Bianca [Andreescu] or Naomi. Both are unseeded.

“I remember when I was Top 5 and played [Karolina] Muchova first round at the French Open. I hated it; it was horrible! Now going through qualies, I’m sure the girls don’t want to play me even more, especially on a surface where matches really count.”

Match Statistics Sakkari vs. Bencic