Maria Sakkari Loses It Over Opponent’s Fist-Pumping and Screaming After Winning Points

The sixth seed Maria Sakkari threatened to call the referee during a tense match with her teenage opponent, almost escalating the situation at Margaret Court Arena.

During the second set of a thrilling game, the Russian tennis player rallied from a score of 4-5 to tie the match. Diana Shnaider expressed her joy with a resounding fist pump directed at her opponent. The 18- year old star was observed directing her loud shout at Maria Sakkari as she celebrated her points throughout the competition.

The sixth seed fought to defeat the 18-year-old Diana Shnaider in their second-round match, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3. The former World No. 3 did not appreciate the Russian’s fierce celebrations during the match.

What was Sakkari’s response to her opponent’s fierce behavior?

Shnaider held off three set points to tie the match at 5-5 and erupted in a fierce roar, but Sakkari was not pleased.

“If she screams one more time in my face, I’m going to call the referee,” she said to the chair umpire.

“I don’t think it’s to you,” the chair umpire replied.

But Sakkari angrily replied: “No, no, no. She’s coming towards me.”

After regaining her composure, Sakkari won the second set 7-5.

She talked about it after the match

She then broke Shnaider in the third game to go up 3-1, and she ultimately won the set 6-3 to go to the third round.

“I think that you know, during a match you can be very pumped or, you know, the way that some players celebrate their points, it’s not appropriate. I wasn’t happy with that,” Sakkari said after the match. 

“But, you know, she never did it again. That was very nice of her, so it was, yeah, that was it.”

The Greek has already advanced to the third round of the Australian Open five times, and his next opponent will be either China’s Lin Zhu or Switzerland’s Jil Teichmann.

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