Here’s everything you need to know about the parents and family of Greek Tennis star Maria Sakkari
Maria Sakkari, born in Athens, Greece on July 25, 1995, has a strong tennis heritage in her family. Both her mother, Angeliki Kanellopoulou, and her grandfather were accomplished tennis players. She started her tennis journey at the age of six under the guidance of her parents.
During her upbringing, she had the valuable opportunity to closely witness her mother’s practice sessions. As a teenager, she continued honing her tennis talents in her hometown before taking a significant step at the age of 18 when she moved to Barcelona, Spain. This relocation was driven by her desire for increased competition and access to superior training facilities.
Kostas Sakkaris, Maria Sakkari’s dedicated father, has been a steadfast supporter of her tennis journey since her early years. He played a pivotal role by driving her to practice sessions in their hometown in Greece and actively engaging with potential sponsors to ensure Maria had access to top-notch resources for her tennis development.
Maria Sakkari’s mother, Angeliki Kanellopoulou, boasts an impressive tennis career of her own in the 1980s. She achieved a career-best ranking of 43 in the world and reached the third round of the French Open twice. Furthermore, Angeliki made it to the finals of the Athens Trophy in 1986, although she narrowly missed winning the title, falling to former German tennis player Sylvia Hanika in the final match. Angeliki’s profound influence on her daughter’s tennis career is apparent, as she closely monitored Maria’s progress and actively participates in significant decisions related to her tennis journey.
| Name | Maria Sakkari |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | July 25, 1995 |
| Place of Birth | Athens, Greece |
| Tennis Career | – Turned professional in 2015 |
| – Achieved career-high ranking of | |
| World No. 3 | |
| – Reached semifinals of French | |
| Open and US Open | |
| Coach | Tom Hill (former coach) |
| Relationship | Konstantinos Mitsotakis (Boyfriend) |
| Residence | Monte Carlo, Monaco |
| Family | – Mother: Angeliki Kanellopoulou |
| – Father: Kostas Sakkaris |
Maria Sakkari’s parents: Mother – Angeliki Kanellopolou
Angeliki Kanellopolou is Maria Sakkari’s mother, and she enjoyed a successful professional tennis career in the 1980s. She reached a career-best ranking of 43 in the world and notably reached the third round of the French Open on two occasions. In 1986, Angeliki made it to the finals of the Athens Trophy, although she narrowly missed capturing the title as she was defeated by former German tennis player Sylvia Hanika in the championship match.
Angeliki’s influence on her daughter’s tennis career has been profound, as she closely monitored Maria’s development and actively participates in important decisions related to her tennis journey. This mother-daughter connection has played a significant role in Maria Sakkari’s tennis achievements and career choices.
Maria Sakkari’s parents: Father – Kostas Sakkaris
Kostas Sakkaris is the father of Maria Sakkari, and he has been an unwavering source of support for her tennis career since her early years. He frequently drove her to practice sessions in their hometown of Greece and actively engaged with potential sponsors to ensure that Maria had access to the best resources for her tennis development.
Sakkari turned professional in 2015 and was under the guidance of American coach Tom Hill, who was one of the youngest coaches in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA). Interestingly, Hill had considered a career in advertising before coaching, but his work with former Australian Open finalist Danielle Collins steered him towards becoming a full-time tennis coach. Sakkari achieved significant milestones in her career, becoming the first Greek woman to reach the semifinals of a Grand Slam tournament twice, achieving this at the French Open and the US Open. Under Tom Hill’s coaching, she also reached a career-high ranking of World No. 3, marking a remarkable achievement in her tennis journey.
Maria Sakkari’s boyfriend – Konstantinos Mitsotakis
Maria Sakkari has been in a relationship with Konstantinos Mitsotakis for over two years. Maria is a well-known figure in the world of tennis, while Konstantinos comes from a highly influential and politically connected family. His father, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, currently holds the position of Prime Minister of Greece, a role that his grandfather, who shares the same name, also previously occupied. The couple primarily resides together in Monte Carlo, where they spend the majority of their time together.
While Maria Sakkari and Konstantinos Mitsotakis have not publicly disclosed the exact date they met, Sakkari mentioned in an interview with the Greek television channel Alpha that they have been in an exclusive relationship since 2020. She shared, “It has been a year now since we met, and the truth is he helped me a lot. He is a special guy. I have disclosed the relationship anyway; it is not hidden.”
Mitsotakis has indeed been a strong source of support for Sakkari and her tennis career. In a 2021 interview with Alpha, Sakkari credited Mitsotakis with contributing to her success, stating in Greek, “I think it was a big part of why I did well at Roland Garros as I spent my free time with him very differently from when I was alone. He calmed me down, he talked to me, he was very supportive. Konstantinos is a very simple guy.”
Conclusion
To sum it up Maria Sakkari has made her parents Angeliki Kanellopolou and Kostas Sakkaris proud, and still has a long way to go in her career.
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