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Maria Sakkari hit back at "dumb critics" after ending her semifinal losing streak in Washington. On Saturday night, Sakkari defeated Jessica Pegula 6-3 4-6 6-2 to reach the Washington final. Prior to the Washington semifinal win, Sakkari lost her last seven semifinal matches, dating back to the 2022 WTA Finals.
In June, Sakkari was beaten in the Berlin semifinal and became the first player since Anna Kournikova to lose her first six singles semifinals in a single year. Seemingly, some were even making fun of Sakkari and the Greek addressed them in Washington.
Sakkari responds to critics
"It wasn't really on my mind, because I really tried to block that semifinal thing that has been going on and on for so long and in every different platform. I just don't really care anymore. They have made YouTube videos of my losing semifinals.
I'm, like, Whatever. People are just so dumb. You know, I'm telling you, I think if you were to ask a lot of players on the tour if they would take my semifinal record, they would say yes because I'm not losing in the first round.
I'm losing in the semifinal. So at the same time, it's nothing bad about it," Sakkari said. Also, Sakkari highlighted that just last year she made four WTA finals. "Yeah, well, I played four finals last year, so I don't know why everyone is, like, so, you know, crazy about me losing in the semifinals.
I think that I have been doing pretty well. I have been top 10 for two years, but I guess that everyone has something to say," Sakkari added. Against Pegula in the Washington semifinal, Sakkari was up by a set and had a 4-1 lead in the second set.
But Pegula refused to quit and stunningly forced a third set. However, Sakkari was able to keep her focus and easily win the third set to complete a three-set win.