World No 6 is making her debut at the WTA Finals in Mexico, having had the best year of her life on tour Maria Sakkari is one of the best women’s tennis players in the world. That has been clear for a couple of years during her slow-burning 20s as, bit by bit, she steadily rose up the rankings and established herself at the top of the game. This week in Guadalajara, as she contests the WTA Finals as one of the elite eight, it is a simple fact. And yet, for the majority of her tennis career, that has not been the case. Although she and Stefanos Tsitsipas have become the first two top-10-ranked Greek tennis players, their success belies the fact that they have done so without the guidance, expertise or financial heft of a federation. Continue reading...
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