After some drama in the third set of their round-of-16 match at Indian Wells, Karolina Pliskova appeared to give Maria Sakkari a somewhat chilly handshake. Pliskova believed that Sakkari’s racket touched one of the balls that left the court in the eighth game of the third set. But the chair umpire did not see it, and Sakkari denied that the ball ever touched her racket. The point was awarded to Sakkari. Finally, Plsikova won that game, but it was the Greek player who conquered the match.
This is what happened.
A little drama in the Karolina Pliskova vs Maria Sakkari Indian Wells match
From what I can see, it looks like Maria’s racquet touched the ball & the point should’ve been awarded to Karolina.
I still don’t understand why tennis doesn’t use video replay for stuff like this.. pic.twitter.com/e1kKWalf7b
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) March 14, 2023
Sakkari survives, 2h45, into the QFs in Indian Wells. No look handshake from Pliskova, who thinks Maria cheated later in the 3rd. Kaja says Sakkari touched a ball at the net, umpire didn’t see, Maria denies it pic.twitter.com/yVcTwgwFiG
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) March 14, 2023
Karolina Pliskova in 2023
Now ranked no.17, Pliskova played her last match on the 14th of March when she lost to world no.7 Maria Sakkari 6-4 5-7 6-3 in the 4th round in Indian Wells (draw).
This season the Czech has an overall 15-6 win-loss record.
Pliskova will compete next in Miami (Miami Open). She will start the tournament from the main draw that will commence on the 21st of March.
Sakkari in Indian Wells, ranking, and results in 2023
LLWWLWWLLL Now the world no.7, Maria achieved a composed 14-5 record in 2023. Sakkari is playing in Indian Wells where she toppled the world no.41 Shelby Rogers 2-6 6-4 6-0, the world no.29 Anhelina Kalinina 3-6 6-2 6-4 and the world no.17 Karolina Pliskova 6-4 5-7 6-3.
Maria Sakkari will play the world no.15 Petra Kvitova in the quarter. Their head to head is 4-3 for Sakkari.
Sakkari is scheduled to compete next in Miami (Miami Open). She will begin to play the tournament from the main draw that will commence on the 21st of March.
Karolina Pliskova and Maria Sakkari played each other 6 times. The head to head is 3-3. The last time they squared off, Maria Sakkari won 6-4 5-7 6-3 in the 4th round in Indian Wells (BNP Paribas Open) on the 14th of March 2023.
You can watch the highlights in the following video.
