LIVE
...

Follow us on

News

Maria Sakkari names the current WTA player who she would like to be her new coach if she could choose

Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images
Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images
Follow us on Google Discover

Maria Sakkari has endured a frustrating time of late, causing her to fall to 64th place in the WTA rankings.

Sakkari fell in the round of 32 stage of both Indian Wells and the Miami Open as her frustrations came to light at the Sunshine Double.

Indian Wells champion Mirra Andreeva was searching for Sunshine Double success, but it was WTA number one Aryna Sabalenka who won the Miami Open.

Sakkari meanwhile was knocked out of both tournaments by Coco Gauff, losing 7-6(7-1), 6-2 and 6-2, 6-4 in California and Miami respectively.

But Gauff will be disappointed with her Sunshine Double run, having exited both tournaments immediately after beating Sakkari.

Miami Open Presented by Itau 2025 - Day 5
Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images

Maria Sakkari thinks she would be a ‘very bad coach’

The Greek star is now focusing on the Charleston Open, but her long-term future plans have also come to light on the Tennis Insider Club Podcast.

Along with fellow WTA stars Jasmine Paolini and Elena Rybakina, Sakkari was asked if she would be a coach.

READ MORE: Paula Badosa picks her two favourite players to watch on the WTA and ATP Tours other than Stefanos Tsitsipas

“No!” she replied. “I think I would be a very bad coach to be honest,” with Paolini saying: “I don’t see myself doing the coaching, you never know, but I don’t believe so.”

Rybakina meanwhile responded: “I would see myself maybe not travelling with someone as a junior, or older or some professional.

“But for myself maybe to teach small kids, I think that would be something nice, but it’s very difficult to say right now what you are going to do in the future.”

Maria Sakkari would choose WTA number four Jessica Pegula as her coach

Sakkari has just dropped 13 places in the WTA rankings, with the 29-year-old having once reached number three in the world.

Her next test involves a clash with Marina Stakusic, with the Greek and the Canadian going head-to-head in the Charleston Open round of 64.

READ MORE: Aryna Sabalenka makes Jessica Pegula prediction after beating her in the Miami Open final

And Sakkari would love to have a star name in her corner going forward, with Italian ace Paolini in a similar position.

When asked who she would choose to be her coach for a week, Sakkari said: “I think retired I would go with Steffi Graf.

“Active player I would go with Jess Pegula. I feel like she is very into tactics and stuff, that’s why. I think that’s the case.”

Paolini meanwhile replied: “Me, Rafa [Nadal],” with an unsure Rybakina saying: “I have no idea, it’s a tough one.”