Google News
Stefanos Tsitsipas admits he is "extremely pumped" about playing mixed doubles with Maria Sakkari at the upcoming United Cup. Tsitsipas, 25, and 28-year-old Sakkari are set to play mixed doubles together for the fourth time.
After debuting as a pair for Greece at the 2019 Hopman Cup, Tsitsipas and Sakkari also competed in the Tokyo Olympics mixed doubles event - where they were beaten in the quarterfinal. Earlier this year, Tsitsipas and Sakkari made their third appearance as a mixed doubles duo at the inaugural edition of the United Cup.
In the inaugural United Cup edition, Tsitsipas and Sakkari went 3-0 as a mixed doubles duo before Greece lost to Italy in the semifinal. "I feel like Maria is a pretty complete player herself being able to play any given moment anywhere within the court, and that helps me a lot as a guy to be playing sometimes a mixed doubles with her.
I'm extremely pumped.... Maria and I refuse to give up. We both fight relentlessly and we try and utilize every single weapon that we have in our artillery to make this work for both of us," Tsitsipas said.
Sakkari also enjoys playing with Tsitsipas
During the 2023 United Cup, Sakkari addressing playing alongside Tsitsipas.
"I think it's huge to have me and Stefanos representing Greece. I think it's very exciting to team up with him again. To play against top guys and girls, it's very good for tennis in general," Sakkari said at this year's United Cup.
After going 3-0 as a pair in Australia earlier this year, Tsitsipas and Sakkari will certainly return to the United Cup confident in their mixed doubles abilities. Since Tsitsipas and Sakkari are both top-10 players, Greece will again be among the top favorites for the United Cup title.
It remains to be seen if Tsitsipas and Sakkari can lead Greece a step further at the 2024 United Cup and potentially lead their nation to the title.