WTA Finals Player Profile: Maria Sakkari

Current Ranking: 9

W/L: 38-22

Titles: 1 (Guadalajara)

Grand Slam Record: 2-4

WTA Finals Appearance: 3

Best Result: SF (2021, 2022)

Maria Sakkari is a workhorse. The Athenian with the Olympian physique—her training reels on Instagram are legendary—plays a ton of tournaments and empties herself into every match. That passion and determination—not to mention her fierce groundies—have made her a fixture in the Top 10 the past several years. In 2023, the results weren’t always up to her standard, but there was no questioning her unrelenting desire or effort.

In her typical consistent fashion, Sakkari got to the semifinals or better in eight tournaments. The glaring blight on her season, however, was that none of those results happened at a major. She picked up a couple of wins Down Under, but suffered consecutive first-round losses at the remaining three. The last of those defeats at the US Open was so disheartening, a distraught and confused Sakkari openly contemplated taking a break from the tour.

Instead, she received an outpouring of support from her peers, urging her to have faith and soldier on. Emboldened to finish out the season with a healthier perspective, she adopted a more relaxed approach. A few weeks later, she smiled and fist-pumped her way to the title in Guadalajara. The event was her first WTA 1000 victory, and just her second tour-level tournament win. The emotional victory exorcised old demons, as it had been more than four years since her maiden title, and she had gone 0-6 in finals over that span.

It also put her back in the running to qualify for Cancun. When Karolina Muchova decided her wrist injury needed more time to recover, the final spot went to Sakkari. It will be her third WTA Finals appearance in as many seasons. Win or lose, she will come to play.

Grab Sakkari’s Gear

Adidas Barricade 2023 ($128) (Purchase now at TennisShop.com)

Few shoes bring history and performance to the court quite like the Barricade. After a brief hiatus, it returned more streamlined, reactive and comfortable compared to the sturdy tank of earlier generations. For this latest in the storied franchise—its 13th iteration—subtle tweaks to the previously overhauled model result in obvious improvements.

To bolster durability, the upper is better protected on the medial side to combat toe-dragging and sliding. It’s lightweight mesh is also more breathable for greater ventilation during hotter conditions. To promote a more locked-in and responsive fit, the eyelets on the lacing system have been anchored more securely to the shoe. From an aesthetics standpoint, the large Adidas callout on the medial side of the shoe has been replaced by a smaller classic three-stripe logo.