Maria Sakkari, once ranked as high as world No. 3, has forged a unique connection with the Mubadala Citi DC Open, effectively making Washington, D.C. her adopted home for tennis. Though born in Athens, Greece, Sakkari has spent the last two years establishing a base in the U.S. capital with her boyfriend, Georgetown University alumnus Konstantinos Mitsotakis.
“I have never stayed home for a tournament,” Sakkari said after her quarterfinal victory on Wednesday. “I’m just excited that I can be ‘home’ and just feel how, because I don’t have a tournament at home in Greece, to just experience the whole atmosphere around playing at your home tournament. Well, not home tournament, but, adopted home.”
The 2023 DC Open finalist channeled this energy to secure one of her season’s biggest wins, overcoming world No. 11 seed Emma Navarro 7-5, 7-6(1). This marked Sakkari’s first Top 20 hard-court victory since defeating Coco Gauff at the 2024 BNP Paribas Open.
“This was a step forward,” she told Tennis Channel. “I just raised my level, I was solid. The first set was a little tricky but I think that second set showed a lot of strength.”
Considered among the fittest competitors on the Hologic WTA tour, physical resilience has never been in question for the two-time Grand Slam semifinalist. However, she faced a significant challenge rebuilding her physique following a shoulder injury that sidelined her for the start of 2024. Once a regular in the Top 10, Sakkari entered the DC Open ranked No. 90 and at risk of missing major tournament main draws.
“I have worked hard the last, not 12 months but, like, 9 months, let’s say, 8 months after coming back from my injury at this time last year,” she explained. “I knew it was going to start picking up at some point, it’s been good, it hasn’t been where I want it to be, but it’s a good start.”
Sakkari relishes this stretch of the season, which features only hard courts — her favored surface. She views the hard-court swing as an ideal opportunity to regain momentum for the remainder of the year.
“I love clay, as well, but I’ll take hard court any day,” she said. “I feel recharged and ready to go for, you know, full calendar now hopefully.”
With the quarterfinals reached, Sakkari stands to climb nearly 20 ranking spots. More importantly, she looks forward to celebrating her 30th birthday surrounded by her supportive D.C. community, including the Georgetown University tennis team.
“The head coach of Georgetown tennis was here,” she remarked. “The head of racquet sports at Georgetown was also here, because they let me use their facilities, which I’m very grateful.” Next, Sakkari will face either Naomi Osaka or Emma Raducanu in the quarterfinals.