Maria Sakkari found a lot of support from fans who supported and defended her after others criticized her for a harmless celebration after her crucial victory against Danielle Collins on Thursday at the Guadalajara Open. An understandably pumped Sakkari celebrated with many fist pumps after staying alive in the race for the 2022 WTA Finals by beating Collins.Sakkari won the Round of 16 match in three sets after losing the opening set against the in-form American. A loss would have ended Sakkari's hopes of clinching the final spot for the WTA Finals in Fort Worth, Texas, set to begin later this month.coco’s #1 fan 🌟@cocogoOFFthat was just…28115that was just… https://t.co/d543B1fKwJWhile many Twitter users criticized Sakkari for celebrating so strongly after clinching the match point, several others rushed to the Greek superstar's defense, suggesting that the matter was being blown out of proportion. They also highlighted that many other players celebrate in a similar fashion."Rafael Nadal celebrates exactly like this after epic matches and nobody bats an eyelid. Why are people annoyed about this?" one fan wrote on Twitter.Scott Barclay@BarclayCard18Rafael Nadal celebrates exactly like this after epic matches and nobody bats an eyelid. Why are people annoyed about this? twitter.com/cocogooff/stat…coco’s #1 fan 🌟@cocogoOFFthat was just…25613that was just… https://t.co/d543B1fKwJRafael Nadal celebrates exactly like this after epic matches and nobody bats an eyelid. Why are people annoyed about this? 😂 twitter.com/cocogooff/stat…Omnni@omnii88That was cute and reminds me of Rafa’s celebrations twitter.com/cocogooff/stat…coco’s #1 fan 🌟@cocogoOFFthat was just…115that was just… https://t.co/d543B1fKwJThat was cute and reminds me of Rafa’s celebrations twitter.com/cocogooff/stat…"I mean… what is problematic here? She celebrates a hard-fought win, a match that keeps her alive in the Race, and after a few frustrating losses recently! I seriously have no idea why people are debating over this celebration?!" another fan expressed.Tie Breaking News@TennisAddict5I mean… what is problematic here ?She celebrates a hard-fought win, a match that keeps her alive in the Race, and after a few frustrating losses recently !I seriously have no idea why people are debating over this celebration ?! twitter.com/cocogooff/stat…coco’s #1 fan 🌟@cocogoOFFthat was just…215that was just… https://t.co/d543B1fKwJI mean… what is problematic here ?She celebrates a hard-fought win, a match that keeps her alive in the Race, and after a few frustrating losses recently !I seriously have no idea why people are debating over this celebration ?! twitter.com/cocogooff/stat…Here are a few more reactions from fans defending Maria Sakkari's celebration after her victory at the Guadalajara Open:Remember the name@AngryYoungMan24That's a great celebration. Why are people crying twitter.com/cocogoOFF/stat…coco’s #1 fan 🌟@cocogoOFFthat was just…415that was just… https://t.co/d543B1fKwJThat's a great celebration. Why are people crying twitter.com/cocogoOFF/stat…Amelia@abh_hockeyHope she keeps doing this so y’all can cry about it more twitter.com/cocogooff/stat…coco’s #1 fan 🌟@cocogoOFFthat was just…2415that was just… https://t.co/d543B1fKwJHope she keeps doing this so y’all can cry about it more 😌 twitter.com/cocogooff/stat…Soumya #90@9_2_7_3Nadal does this almost every match and nobody finds any problem in it twitter.com/cocogoOFF/stat…coco’s #1 fan 🌟@cocogoOFFthat was just…2315that was just… https://t.co/d543B1fKwJNadal does this almost every match and nobody finds any problem in it twitter.com/cocogoOFF/stat…Flavietto99 🇮🇹 (RAFA 22 🏆)@FlavioBertolin8@_rafalewis Maria Sakkari has a life, them not. Here's the problem.3@_rafalewis Maria Sakkari has a life, them not. Here's the problem.Vereor Nox Venti@vampel1994Imagine getting mad because a tennis player celebrated an important win in a goofy way... just imagine. twitter.com/cocogoOFF/stat…coco’s #1 fan 🌟@cocogoOFFthat was just…115that was just… https://t.co/d543B1fKwJImagine getting mad because a tennis player celebrated an important win in a goofy way... just imagine. twitter.com/cocogoOFF/stat…The Happy One@kavyasastraI don't even care much for Sakkari, but the policing of self-directed gestures needs to stop. For someone who has endured disappointment after crushing disappointment at the highest level, every win must mean so much, especially the hard-fought ones. twitter.com/cocogoOFF/stat…coco’s #1 fan 🌟@cocogoOFFthat was just…915that was just… https://t.co/d543B1fKwJI don't even care much for Sakkari, but the policing of self-directed gestures needs to stop. For someone who has endured disappointment after crushing disappointment at the highest level, every win must mean so much, especially the hard-fought ones. twitter.com/cocogoOFF/stat…Sakkari will now face Veronika Kudermetova in the Guadalajara Open quarterfinals on Friday, with the winner clinching the final qualification spot at the WTA Finals."I don't care what people say about my season, all I know is I'm still a top 10 player" - Maria SakkariWTA Guadalajara Open Akron 2022 - Day 4After the match against Collins, Maria Sakkari spoke about being alive in the race for the WTA Finals, suggesting that it is only fitting that she and Kudermetova will battle it out in a winner-takes-all situation. Kudermetova is currently just above Sakkari in the race, but the situation will change if Sakkari can win on Friday.The Greek player has had a tough season with many early losses, but she said that she does not care about the criticism that she often receives for it."We both have good seasons. That's why we're fighting for that spot," Maria Sakkari said after the match, according to WTA. "I don't care what people say about my season that has been a roller coaster, but all I know is I'm still a Top 10 player. I'm still one of the two players that might get the last spot."Sakkari also competed in last year's WTA Finals, beating the likes of Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka to reach the semifinals. However, she lost to Annet Kontaveit in a hard-fought semifinal.