Maria Sakkari had a fantastic US Open quarter-final against Karolina Pliskova to reach her second semi-final in a slam after this year’s French Open. Maria is playing fantastic tennis and she also has the luck of having her mother and sister attending her matches in the player’s box.
Maria Sakakri’s mother Angeliki used to be a professional player, but she ended her professional career pretty soon when she was only 25.
During a press conference that followed Maria’s match against Karolina Pliskova, Sakkari revealed the best advice she received from her mother.
“She stopped playing tennis when she was 25 and she was married at my age. I’m far away from stopping playing tennis right now. Now it’s the best time of my career.
The best advice she’s given me is just enjoy your time right now on the court. Many people have asked me. Enjoy your time on the court because that’s not going to last forever.
Her career was pretty small, which she hopes my career is longer, and I think it’s going to be. As I said, I’m not thinking of stopping playing tennis anytime soon.
Yeah, that’s it. That’s the things she has experienced and she has told me.”
Maria Sakkari will come up against the world no.150 Emma Raducanu in the semifinal. They have never played each other up to now on the main tour.
Sakkari at the U.S. Open, ranking, and results in 2021
Currently ranked no.18 (career-high), the Greek owns a compiled 31-14 match record in 2021. The Greek is now competing at the U.S. Open where she conquered Marta Kostyuk 6-4 6-3, Katerina Siniakova 6-4 6-2, Petra Kvitova 6-4 6-3, Bianca Vanessa Andreescu 6-72 7-66 6-3 and Karolina Pliskova 6-4 6-4.
Karolina Pliskova in 2021
Currently the world no.4, the Czech played her last match on the 8th of September when she lost to world no.18 Maria Sakkari 6-4 6-4 in the quarter in U.S. Open (draw).
Until now, during this year Karolina has a composed 34-17 record. Karolina Pliskova’s best result of the current season was getting to the final in Rome, in Wimbledon and Montreal.
Maria Sakkari and Karolina Pliskova faced off 3 times. Their actual record is 2-1 for Sakkari. The last time they locked horns, Maria Sakkari won 6-4 6-4 in the quarter in New York (U.S. Open) on the 8th of September 2021.
In the video below you can watch the highlights.
Raducanu at the U.S. Open, ranking, and results in 2021
Now ranked no.150 (career-high), the Brit has managed to achieve an overall 21-6 match record in 2021. The Brit is currently competing at the U.S. Open where she toppled Bibiane Schoofs 6-1 6-2, Mariam Bolkvadze 6-3 7-5, Mayar Sherif 6-1 6-4, Stefanie Voegele 6-2 6-3, Shuai Zhang 6-2 6-4, Sara Sorribes Tormo 6-0 6-1, Shelby Rogers 6-2 6-1 and Belinda Bencic 6-3 6-4.
Emma Raducanu will play the world no.18 Maria Sakkari in the semifinal. In the past, they have never competed against each other as of now in top events.
Raducanu was the finalist in the Chicago.
