World No. 6 Maria Sakkari said she didn’t have any support from federations or sponsors while she was a junior. Sakkari, 26, is enjoying the best season of her career and now she has lucrative sponsorship deals. “I was lucky to have parents like my parents because they invested a lot and I had zero support from federations or sponsors,” said Sakkari, whose mother, Angeliki Kanellopoulou, was once ranked No 43 in the world.

“My father paid so much for me to play tennis and I’m very grateful for what he has done and they have both done in order for me to achieve my goals”. Sakkari had a plan in place if she didn’t make it in tennis. Read More