In a thrilling development of the tennis world, American prodigy Coco Gauff is set to square off against Greek superstar Maria Sakkari in the third round of the prestigious Indian Wells tournament. This isn’t the first time these two top-tier athletes have crossed paths, having previously met a total of eight times. Sakkari holds a slight edge in their head-to-head record, boasting five victories to Gauff’s three. Adding a dose of deja vu to their upcoming encounter, their most recent battle took place right here at Indian Wells last year, with Sakkari emerging victorious and advancing to the California final.
Sakkari, 29, has previously expressed admiration for her younger opponent, citing Gauff as an inspiration. However, their relationship can be described as anything but simple. The 2023 US Open champion, Gauff, might harbor mixed feelings given Sakkari’s public spat with her close ally, Danielle Collins.
The controversy unfolded at the 2023 Canadian Open where Sakkari and Collins, 31, clashed over a tennis ball that Sakkari spiked into the ground, sending it towards the spectators. Despite Sakkari’s immediate show of remorse towards the fans and umpire, Collins took offense, confronting the umpire and Sakkari. In spite of the heated exchange, Sakkari and Gauff have generally maintained a friendly rapport, a testament to their professionalism.
In a post-match interaction at last year’s Indian Wells, Sakkari expressed her respect for Gauff, describing her as an “incredible” and “amazing” opponent. Not just that, Sakkari revealed that Gauff’s resilience and perspective was a source of inspiration during her triumphant campaign at the WTA 1000 title in Guadalajara in 2023.
Following a disappointing first-round exit at the US Open that year, Sakkari found inspiration in Gauff’s words about the relative insignificance of a tennis match loss compared to bigger problems people face. Gauff’s defiant stance on criticism on “Tennis Twitter” and her gratitude towards her doubters for fuelling her motivation resonated deeply with Sakkari. She admitted to drawing strength from Gauff’s outlook, turning the negativity she endured on social media into a catalyst for her landmark victory.
However, it remains to be seen how Gauff will react to this public admiration, especially in light of her recent loss to Sakkari. Prior to this, Gauff had triumphed in two consecutive matches against Sakkari, including the Washington Open final in 2023.
As the number 3 seed, Gauff is poised to regain her momentum in their upcoming clash, eyeing a spot in the fourth round. On the other hand, Sakkari, despite her respect for Gauff, will not let personal fondness stand in the way of her pursuit of one of the most coveted prizes in her career. This intense rivalry, layered with mutual respect and a dash of controversy, is set to add another exciting chapter at the Indian Wells tournament.
