After shedding her final three Grand Slam first-round matches, Maria Sakkari is hoping to see a shift in her fortunes in 2024 – in additional methods than one.
The Greek, who snapped that streak when she defeated Nao Hibino, 6-4, 6-1 on Day 1 on the Australian Open, has taken the plunge and altered racquets this season. Sakkari now performs with the Wilson Shift, and he or she believes the brand new body helps her get extra out of her forehand.
“It’s been a while since I wanted to change racquets,” Sakkari admitted on Sunday in Melbourne. “I spoke to Wilson, and I believe we got here up with an excellent plan and nice racquet for myself and for my sport. It’s been the right racquet for my sport. I nonetheless get the spin, however I get a variety of energy and management on the similar time.”
Maria Sakkari modified racquets. After 10 years, now performs with the Wilson Shift. Says it was the most effective pre-season she’s ever had.
“It was a giant step. People round me had been slightly bit hesitant, however they may see that I used to be telling them that I do know there is a racquet on the market…
— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) January 14, 2024
Sakkari mentioned her staff wasn’t certain that she ought to rock the boat after having a lot success along with her different racquet, for therefore lengthy, however the Greek believed it was the best name.
“It was a big step,” she mentioned. “People around me were a little bit hesitant, but they could see that I was telling them that I know there’s a racquet out there that is better for my game.”
So many gamers have horror tales about altering racquets and by no means discovering a consolation degree with the brand new stick. Some do it for profitable sponsorships, others simply search change. Sakkari, no stranger to lengthy hours on the court docket, spent numerous hours along with her new racquet to develop a excessive degree of consolation.
“I just spent more than four hours on the court and more than two hours in the gym, so it was more than six hours every day of training for three weeks,” she mentioned. “Obviously I did some double sessions of fitness the week before, and the closer it came to the tournament, my time on the court went down.
“But, yeah, it’s been I think the best preseason I’ve ever had in my career.”
The racquet isn’t the one change that Sakkari has made. She has additionally added Sports Psychologist Ben Crowe to her staff. The Greek didn’t wish to go in-depth about Crowe, who was a former mindset coach for Aussie legend Ash Barty.
“I just don’t really want to talk about it. I like to keep those things secretly,” she mentioned.
No.8-seeded Sakkari will tackle Russia’s Elina Avanesyan within the second spherical.
Source: www.tennisnow.com