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Confrontation after game: Sakkari shocks Putintseva in Bad Homburg!
Maria Sakkari and Yulia Putintseva had a heated exchange after their match in Bad Homburg.
Confrontation after game: Sakkari shocks Putintseva in Bad Homburg!
Maria Sakkari and Yulia Putintseva caused a stir after their first round match at the tournament in Bad Homburg. Sakkari won the duel 7-5, 7-6 (6) and then had clear words for her opponent. “When you shake someone's hand, look them in the eyes,” Sakkari explained, expressing dissatisfaction with Putintseva's handshake.
The confrontation escalated further when Putintseva responded with an exaggerated bow. “Just be like a human being,” Sakkari urged her opponent. As Putintseva went to the locker room, the two players exchanged further comments. In a subsequent interview, Sakkari made it clear that there was "no love lost" between them, adding, "I don't think she'll invite me to dinner for the rest of our lives, but I don't care." Despite the conflict, Sakkari respects Putintseva as a player, but emphasizes that this is all that their relationship is.
Matches and statistics
The next meeting between Sakkari and Putintseva is already imminent. Both players will meet in the second round match of the Western & Southern Open, scheduled for Monday at 3 p.m. on Court 9. It is the third duel between the two, with the current score being 1-1. Their last meeting was in Tokyo in 2016, where Putintseva won 6-4, 6-3.
Sakkari is currently ranked 21st in the world and won in the first round against Cori Gauff 6-1, 6-3. In this game she scored a total of 56 points, 21 of which were winners. Her serve statistics are also impressive: 4 aces and a conversion rate of 67% (4 out of 6 break chances). On hard courts, Sakkari has a record of 306-208 over the last seven years.
| player | Ranking | 1st round result | Points scored | winner | Aces | Double fault |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maria Sakkari | 21 | 6-1, 6-3 against Cori Gauff | 56 | 21 | 4 | 4 |
| Yulia Putintseva | 33 | 6-4, 6-3 against Shuai Zhang | 75 | 20 | 2 | 4 |
Putintseva, ranked 33rd in the world, also won in the first round against Shuai Zhang. In this game she scored 75 points, scoring 20 as winners. She also served 2 aces and had a conversion rate of 38% (5 out of 13 break chances).
Sakkari will face either Ekaterina Alexandrova or Belinda Bencic in the second round. Preparations are already underway for Wimbledon, which begins on June 30th. Sakkari is confident that she will continue to play successfully despite the tensions between her and Putintseva.
For more information on the incident and upcoming matches, visit ESPN and Tennis Tonic.