Sakkari advances to Athens Open semifinals, cherishes home-court advantage

Maria Sakkari celebrated her advancement to the Athens Open semifinals, overcoming Alicia Parks in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3. The world No. 37 is striving for a significant achievement in front of her home crowd. Sakkari emphasized the special feeling of competing in Greece, stating that playing at home is unique and the support from the audience is an unparalleled motivation. She reflected on her performance against Parks, a player she had lost to twice previously, and discussed her strategy, including adjusting her return position based on Parks's serve. Sakkari acknowledged Parks's strong serve but focused on treating it as just another serve rather than becoming fixated. Looking ahead to her semifinal match on Saturday against Alina Korneeva, Sakkari expressed her desire for a full stadium, believing the atmosphere would be even more electric. She hopes to see the OAKA stadium packed for her upcoming matches, including the final if she qualifies.