Athens, Greece – 18 July 2026
Maria Sakkari delivered a powerful performance at the Athens Open, qualifying for the final and stirring deep emotions as she reflected on competing in her hometown in front of family and friends.
The Greek tennis star, who grew up in Athens, spoke with raw honesty after her semi-final victory. She described reaching the final as a personal celebration, regardless of the final outcome.
Sakkari’s Moving Statements
“I don’t know if I’ll be able to articulate myself enough to speak. Really from the bottom of my heart, I haven’t won the tournament yet obviously but for me it’s a celebration because playing in front of my family and my people who have never seen me play a final, regardless of the result will be something unique, especially here in the city where I grew up.”
Sakkari also paid tribute to her mother, who reached the final of the same tournament 40 years ago. With visible emotion, she added:
“I don’t know. I’m sure Mom would also like me to go a step further than her, but as I said before, tomorrow will be a celebration for me and it would be really nice to win. This week has really been an incredible experience and we’re going to pick it up tomorrow.”
The statements quickly resonated with Greek fans, highlighting the deep family bond and the special significance of competing on home soil.
A Historic Week for Greek Tennis
Sakkari’s run at the Athens Open comes at a poignant time, as she aims to surpass her mother’s achievement from four decades earlier. The atmosphere at the venue has been electric, with passionate home support fueling her campaign.
Tomorrow’s final promises to be a memorable occasion for Sakkari and Greek tennis. Whether she lifts the trophy or not, the week has already become a heartfelt homecoming story.