In her first match after reuniting with former longtime coach Tom Hill, Sakkari edged China’s Wang Xinyu, 6-4 7-6(7), to set a second-round clash with Poland’s Magda Linette.
“I need those kinds of wins,” Sakkari said on the Tennis Channel desk. “Especially now. My confidence is not the highest that it’s ever been, but that’s fine – I’ve accepted it.”
“It’s going to come with confidence,” she added.
Sakkari worked with several different coaches after parting ways with Hill last year – David Witt, Sergi Bruguera and Raemon Sluiter – but could not find the connection that she had with Hill, who coached Peyton Stearns for a spell.
Hill and Sakkri started a six-year partnership in 2018, and during that time the Greek blossomed into a Top-10 talent. She reached a pair of major semifinals in 2021, but has never been that deep at a major since.
Perhaps her second time around with Hill can help with that bit of unfinished business? For now, Sakkari is just happy to have a new lease on life.
“I’m super excited,” the former World No.3 said. “I’m so happy to be back with him. He’s like a brother to me, we have a great relationship. He’s an amazing coach and I feel like that one year apart was great for us because we really got to mature and see other things.”
The Greek says she’s not afraid of dropping out of the Top 100 or having to drop down and play challenger events to rebuild her ranking.
Most important, she just wants to build confidence in her game and in herself.
