In a thrilling kick-off to the 2026 United Cup in Perth, Maria Sakkari showed no signs of the disappointment she experienced from her early exit last year, delivering a commanding performance that propelled Greece to an impressive start against Japan. She achieved a remarkable straight-sets victory over Naomi Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion currently ranked No. 16 in the world.
This match marked the first time in nearly five years that Sakkari faced off against Osaka. The former world No. 3 wasted no time establishing dominance, winning the opening tie for Greece with scores of 6-4 and 6-2 in just 1 hour and 38 minutes at the RAC Arena. Sakkariâs strong starts in each set were pivotal to her success.
Watch out for the SakkAttack! đ„ Sakkari gave Team Greece the ideal beginning in Perth, as highlighted in this tweet from the United Cup: (link to the tweet)
Sakkari was quick off the mark, racing ahead to a 2-0 lead in the first set thanks to a solid service hold and an early break during Osaka's initial service game. Although Osaka managed to break back immediately, Sakkari quickly regained her edge and wrapped up the first set, skillfully executing a backhand winner that painted the line, setting herself up for a third set point, which she converted without hesitation.
Reflecting on her performance, Sakkari noted, "I have a very good backhand cross. We had many exchanges, and I felt that whoever went down the line first stood the best chance of winning the point. It was something we focused on a lot during preseason, and it really paid off today."
As the second set commenced, both players exchanged holds before Sakkari fended off two break points to secure a 2-1 lead. She then managed another break against Osaka, taking a 3-1 lead and maintaining that control throughout the set. With this victory, Sakkari improved her head-to-head record against Osaka to three wins in six encounters, but more importantly, she gave Greece a crucial 1-0 advantage in their tie against Japan.
