Maria Sakkari felt Diana Shnaider was doing too much with her celebrations and that prompted an annoyed reaction from the Greek tennis star. After serving out the 10th game of the second set to tie the set to five games apiece, Shnaider let out a big roar and fist-pumped herself.
Since Shnaider had a very loud reaction the point earlier as well, Sakkari lost it and made her feelings clear to the chair umpire. “If she screams one more time in my face. No, no, no, no, One more time, she’s coming towards me.
One more time and I’m going to speak to the referee,” Sakkari told the chair umpire.
Shnaider screams; Sakkari seethes.#AusOpenpic.twitter.com/wGO95IBgya — Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) January 18, 2023
After the incident, Sakkari was able to recollect herself as she served out the 11th game before breaking Shnaider in the following game to win the second set.
106th-ranked Shnaider was just a set away from clinching the biggest win of her career but Sakkari stormed back to win 3-6 7-5 6-3.
Sakkari on beating Shnaider
Sakkari, 27, and 18-year-old Shnaider were playing against each other for the first time in her career.
After the match, Sakkari admitted that not knowing too much about Shnaider’s game was a factor. “It’s not easy to play someone that you’ve never played before or seen before on the tour. I was a little bit hesitant. She was swinging very hard, she was playing very aggressive.
I know that I should have been more aggressive because I was very far back from the baseline running and defending every single ball which is not my game. I tried to find ways and that’s what I think I’m good at. I think I’m good at trying to find solutions and trying to improve my game during the match,” Sakkari said after the match, per Eurosport. In the Australian Open third round, Sakkari plays Lin Zhu.
