From early struggles to renewed momentum
Maria Sakkari’s 2025 season began with frustration, heavy pressure, and a steep rankings drop, but the Greek star is finally finding her rhythm again. After a gritty 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 win over Kamilla Rakhimova in the Cincinnati Open first round, Sakkari has now won four of her last six matches since Wimbledon. That run marks a welcome turnaround after a difficult start to the year, which saw her tumble to No.90 in the WTA Rankings. A recent surge has lifted her back to No.72, and she heads into her second-round clash against Italy’s Jasmine Paolini with fresh belief.
Mindset shift fueling revival
The former World No.3 admitted she was “very stressed” earlier in the year, obsessing over a rapid return to the Top 10 and allowing that pressure to affect her performances. Now, she says she’s letting go of those expectations and focusing on enjoying the sport again. “I found balance,” Sakkari explained. “I’m just giving myself time. I’m happier than I was before, and that’s the most important thing. I’m convinced good things are going to come. I won’t be playing for another 10 years, so I better enjoy it now and trust the process.” That mental reset, she believes, is translating into better results and a more positive outlook on and off the court.
Ambition remains sky-high
While the 28-year-old has embraced patience, her competitive fire is as strong as ever. “I’m a perfectionist,” she told the Cincinnati Open’s official website. “I’m playing tennis to be a Top-10, Top-5 player. No disrespect to others, but I’m not playing to be No.65. Otherwise, I’d stop and do something else. I know what type of athlete I am.” It will be the fourth time Sakkari faces Paolini, holding a 2-1 head-to-head lead, including a dominant 6-2, 6-1 win at the Madrid Open earlier this year. A victory in Cincinnati would not only boost her ranking but also further cement the sense that her season is firmly back on track.
Painful exit in Cincinnati
Despite her improved form and confident mindset, Sakkari’s Cincinnati run came to a halt against Paolini in the second round. In a fiercely contested battle, the Italian edged both sets in tiebreaks to claim the win, handing Sakkari a narrow but frustrating defeat. The last tiebreak was remarkable — Jasmine Paolini stormed to a 6-0 lead, only for Maria Sakkari to claw her way back to 6-5. But on her sixth match point, the Italian finally sealed the victory. The result means the Greek will have to wait a little longer to notch the kind of statement victory she believes will propel her back toward the WTA elite.
Statistical Breakdown – Paolini vs Sakkari
| Statistic | Paolini | Sakkari |
|---|---|---|
| Dominance Ratio | 1.05 | 0.96 |
| Serve Rating | 276 | 268 |
| Aces | 5 | 8 |
| Double Faults | 3 | 3 |
| 1st Serve % | 64% (58/90) | 57% (49/86) |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 71% (41/58) | 69% (34/49) |
| 2nd Serve Points Won | 56% (18/32) | 54% (20/37) |
| Break Points Saved | 75% (6/8) | 80% (8/10) |
| Service Games | 83% (10/12) | 83% (10/12) |
| Ace % | 5.6% | 9.3% |
| Double Fault % | 3.3% | 3.5% |
| Return Rating | 114 | 115 |
| 1st Return Points Won | 31% (15/49) | 29% (17/58) |
| 2nd Return Points Won | 46% (17/37) | 44% (14/32) |
| Break Points Won | 20% (2/10) | 25% (2/8) |
| Return Games | 17% (2/12) | 17% (2/12) |
| Pressure Points | 44% (8/18) | 56% (10/18) |
| Service Points | 64% (58/90) | 63% (54/86) |
| Return Points | 37% (32/86) | 36% (32/90) |
| Total Points | 51% (90/176) | 49% (86/176) |
| Match Points Saved | 0 | 5 |
| Max Points In A Row | 7 | 6 |
| Service Games Won | 83% (10/12) | 83% (10/12) |
| Return Games Won | 17% (2/12) | 17% (2/12) |
| Total Games Won | 50% (12/24) | 50% (12/24) |
| Max Games In A Row | 3 | 4 |
| Injury Timeouts | 0 | 0 |
| Match Duration | 2h 09m | |