Maria Sakkari

Maria Sakkari attained a career-high world ranking of No. 3 on 21 March 2022, establishing herself as the highest-ranked Greek woman in the history of professional tennis. Known for an aggressive, all-court playing style, she has secured multiple WTA singles titles, including a notable victory at the 2023 Guadalajara Open, and consistently performed at the highest levels of the sport.

Early Development and Background

Born in Athens on 25 July 1995, Sakkari was introduced to tennis at age six by her parents, Konstantinos Sakkaris and former top-50 player Angelikí Kanellopoúlou. Her grandfather, Dimitris Kanellopoulos, was also a professional player. Educated at Athens College, Sakkari eventually moved to Barcelona at age 18 to pursue professional training. She maintains a residence in Monte Carlo.

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Professional Ascent

Sakkari broke into the professional circuit through the 2015 US Open, marking her first main draw appearance at a major. By 2016, she secured her first Grand Slam match win at the Australian Open and achieved a top-100 ranking. Her career progressed through the 2017 season, when she reached her first Premier 5 semifinal at the Wuhan Open by defeating Caroline Wozniacki, subsequently entering the top 50.

Major Achievements and Recognition

In 2021, Sakkari reached the semifinals at both the French Open and the US Open, becoming the first Greek woman to achieve a major semifinal. These performances contributed to her being named the Greek Female Athlete of the Year in both 2020 and 2021. Throughout her career, she has competed in the 2020 Summer Olympics for both singles and mixed doubles and is featured in the Netflix series Break Point.