Sakkari is able to withstand college student panic

Maria Sakkari overcame a scare against Diana Shnaider, a college student at the Australian Open. She managed to win in a match that was so bad she thought she would lose.

The Greek sixth seed narrowly avoided the largest upset of the year’s opening Grand Slam. He eventually won 3-6-7-5, 6-3 to make it to the third round.

Shnaider (18-year-old Russian qualifier) pushed Sakkari to the finish in a 2hr 33min examination at Margaret Court Arena.

“It was extremely difficult. Sakkari shared with reporters that there were moments during the match when it seemed like I was going to lose. However, then my belief somehow woken I up.”

Sakkari was broken by Shnaider’s first serve. Shnaider, who is a hardhitter, saved three break-back points and won the opening set in 48 minutes.

Sakkari stated that she felt the loss in the first set because she could not feel her game.

“I was very defensive. “I haven’t felt like that for a while. Because I worked long hours, I found a way.

Sakkari, one pre-tournament favorite, was back on track at start of second set. She broke Shnaider’s first service game and opened a 3-0 lead.

Shnaider, however, fought back and saved four points before Sakkari won the match.

Screaming celebrations

Sakkari said that it is difficult to play someone you have never seen before or who you don’t know well.

She said that she was nervous because she was swinging hard and playing aggressively, which made her a little hesitant.

As the match continued, the Greek became more irritable and complained to the umpire of the Russian’s constant shouting celebrations after she won a point.

Sakkari stated that you can feel very excited during a match. Sakkari explained that it was inappropriate for some players to celebrate their points in this way. I was not happy about that.

“But, you’re right, she didn’t do it again. She was so kind. That was it.

Shnaider was again beaten by Sakkari in set three, but the sixth seed managed regroupment and won the match.

It was a great performance by the gritty Shnaider, despite the loss.

The teenager was not ranked in the top 1,000 a year ago, and she also lost the Auckland Classic’s first round of qualifying two weeks ago.

In her first round match, she didn’t know Sakkari was so close to Sakkari. It took almost two hours for Sakkari, a 27-year-old Slovakian, to beat Kristina Kucova 7-6 (8/6), 7-5.

Sakkari said, “I think she played an incredible match.”

“The power she has in both her forehands and her serve is something I haven’t seen in a while as a young player.

“Maybe she should think about not going to college but playing pro instead.”

Sakkari will face either Jil Teichmann (the number 32 seed from Switzerland) or Zhu Lin from China in the third round.

dh/ssy