'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAFAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIF/8QAFAEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABf/aAAwDAQACEAMQAAAAzoDlv//EACIQAAICAQEJAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECAwURAAQHEiEjNWSh4v/aAAgBAQABPwCspnur2xgk2rt1mknXQzI4MbjHCTywG9abc2isVW9kwPG+9f/EABgRAAIDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACARMy/9oACAECAQE/ALnTMn//xAAYEQACAwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACAwABIf/aAAgBAwEBPwB6gI9qf//Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Following Karolina Muchova's withdrawal from the 2023 WTA Finals due to a wrist injury, Maria Sakkari is set to take her place in the tournament in Cancun, Mexico. Not all tennis fans have taken the news well, though.
World No. 8 Karolina Muchova had an impressive 2023 campaign as she was the finalist at the French Open in June and the Cincinnati Open in August. Following a wrist injury, the Czech recently released a statement on social media confirming her withdrawal from her maiden WTA Finals.
"I am heartbroken to announce that I will miss my first WTA Finals in Cancun. Together with the team & doctors, we tried everything till the last moments to resolve my wrist injury," Muchova posted on Instagram.
"Unfortunately, the time needed for the recovery is longer than we would've hoped for and therefore I had to make this unpleasant decision. I greatly appreciate the support of all the fans.I will do my best to be back in 2024 and get another chance to be part of the WTA Finals," she added.
In response to the news, one fan took to X (formerly Twitter) to tear down Maria Sakkari, labeling the scenario as a 'scam'.
"[Maria] Sakkari playing [WTA] Finals feels so wrong. Won just two matches on slams. Her biggest result was Guadalajara where she played ONE top 50 player. Played like 649202 tournaments. I’m sorry, I know some of you like her, but this is definition of the word 'scam'," the user posted.
Another fan also shared a similar opinion of Maria Sakkari and was dismayed by her top 10 ranking despite her below-par performances.
"Sakkari - a consistent top 10 player and even top 5 player and has basically done nothing in her career other than one title last month I think. It seems getting to the quarters consistently is good enough to keep you in the top 10 which is annoying considering how well others work," the user posted on X.
One fan sarcastically opined that Maria Sakkari got a rather easy pass into the tournament.
"Not Maria getting free ride again lol," the user posted.
Here are a few more reactions from tennis fans:
Maria Sakkari set to play in her 3rd successive WTA Finals
The 2023 WTA Finals is set to be played from October 29 to November 5 in Cancun, Mexico. World No. 9 Maria Sakkari has been the semifinalist in the last two WTA Finals and will be hoping to cross that barrier in the tournament this year.
The 2021 WTA Finals, hosted in Zapopan, Mexico, was Sakkari's maiden appearance at the tournament. She defeated four-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek 6-2, 6-4 in her opening match.
After losing to Paula Badosa in the next round, the Greek made her way into the semifinal by defeating the 2023 Australian Open winner Aryna Sabalenka in three sets, 7-6, 6-7, 6-3. Sakkari eventually exited the tournament after suffering a defeat against Estonian Anett Kontaveit in the last four.
In the 2022 WTA Finals, fifth seed Maria Sakkari defeated American Jessica Pegula, Aryna Sabalenka and Tunisian Ons Jabeur without dropping a single set in the group stage.
The Greek then faced Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia in the semifinal and lost 3-6, 2-6. Garcia was the eventual champion as she went on to beat Sabalenka 7-6, 6-4 in the final in Fort Worth, Texas.
