No Greek tennis participant has ever been the final man or girl standing on the finish of a singles Grand Slam occasion.
However in 2023 we shouldn’t be stunned if we see the historical past books rewritten. That’s based on Maria Sakkari.
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The 27-year-old celebrity from Greece will enter her eighth consecutive Australian Open when the event will get underway on Monday.
After a “hectic yr” which noticed her attain a profession excessive rank of quantity three on the earth, Sakkari solely managed to go additional than the third spherical at one Grand Slam.
“Clearly loads of ups and downs nevertheless it was very useful that I completed the yr sturdy,” Sakkari advised information.com.au.
“It made my low season very nice and a really good time to chill out. Now I really feel prepared for an additional season.”
At present listed simply outdoors the highest 10 on betting markets to be the final girl standing, it’s her countryman, Stefanos Tsitsipas, that she believes may grow to be the primary participant from Greece to be holding a Grand Slam trophy aloft.
“I might be very glad for Stefanos as a result of he deserves it, he has been within the prime 10 for the previous few years from a really younger age,” she stated.
“We received to spend time collectively on the courtroom the previous few weeks on the United Cup, he’s taking part in unbelievable and I wouldn’t be stunned if he does win this Grand Slam as a result of his degree is one of the best I’ve seen him play.
“However it will be superb if we may win on the similar time. It might be like Euro 2004 when Greece gained. It’s going to be very large for the nation.”
Tsitsipas is at present listed because the equal third likeliest participant to take residence the Australian Open trophy, behind Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev whereas being on the identical line of betting as Nick Kyrgios.
In contrast to Tsitsipas nevertheless, Sakkari options in Netflix’s new collection Break Level which provides followers a glance backstage into the gamers lives on tour.
The collection, which launched globally on January 13, showcases a number of the video games greatest stars and provides followers an unrivalled perception into their lives and careers.
Whereas the collection goals to emulate the success of Netflix’s smash hit Drive to Survive, the marketplace for selecting gamers is much larger relating to the world of tennis.
It was an arduous job however one govt producer Paul Martin stated all got here all the way down to the tales behind the gamers.
“Our greatest factor is story and the place we expect we’ll be capable to inform one of the best sort of story,” Martin stated to information.com.au.
“We don’t take a look at these worlds and try to tick demographics. It doesn’t work like that, should you try to do that you just run into bother.
“If we’d have utilized that logic we by no means would have had Ons Jabeur from Tunisia and I feel she’s one of many breakout characters of the collection.”
Martin rattled off a bunch of moments from the collection that caught out as his personal private favourites nevertheless it was one from an Aussie that he remembers one of the best.
“You’ll see it within the second half of the season, Ajla Tomljanovic when she faces down Serena Williams in one of the vital hostile atmospheres,” Martin stated.
“I don’t assume there was an individual in that stadium most likely above and past her dad that wished her to win that sport.
“The best way she was capable of stroll in there and carry out the best way she did was phenomenal and I feel by the tip of it had gained the respect of complete crowd.
“To be within the stadium that night time was a reasonably particular second.”
