“Stefanos Tsitsipas is Very Supportive of Women” – Maria Sakkari

In Washington, the Greek lad, Stefanos Tsitsipas also reaches the semifinals of the Citi Open 2019 after he bageled the French player, Benoit Paire in the last eight round. Next, Tsitsipas will be facing his doubles mate, Nick Kyrgios for a place in the finals of the DC Open. On Monday, Tsitsipas will break into the top five ATP rankings for the first time in his career. 

In a recent interview with a Greek magazine, Tsitsipas’ compatriot, Maria Sakkari revealed about Stefanos supporting equal pay for women on the tennis tour. Despite, the women spending less time on the court when compared to their male counterparts, the Greek perceives that women should be renumerated as much as the men do. 

“Stefanos Tsitsipas is very supportive of women,” Sakkari said. “In discussions, we’ve had, about this issue of equal pay in sports, Stefanos is pro-equality for all.”

World Number six, Tsitsipas and Sakkari are good friends from the tour, the shared the tennis courts during the Hopman Cup. First time in professional tennis history there were Greek champions in both ATP and WTA in the same week and that took place in the month of May this year. Stefanos Tsitsipas won in Estoril, Portugal and Maria Sakkari won her title in Rabat, Morocco.

Greece’s Number one player, Maria Sakkari incredibly battled past the top-seed, Elina Svitolina in the quarters of Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic. Sakkari was trailing  6-1, 5-2 in the quarterfinal match, she saved four match points and then sealed her semifinal spot with a 1-6, 7-6(3), 6-3 victory in San Jose.

“I was one step away from losing,” the World Number 30, Sakkari said after her rollercoaster win. “I’m very excited that I managed to turn the score around and be back in the semifinal here in San Jose. I have great memories from last year, so it’s super nice to be back. I didn’t remember that it was four (match points) – I thought it was two,” she smirked.

Sakkari will now play unseeded Zheng Saisai for a place in the San Jose final. Saisai knocked down the fourth seed American, Amanda Anisimova in the quarters.