Greece’s dynamic tennis duo, Maria Sakkari and Stefanos Tsitsipas, kicked off their United Cup campaign on a high note in Perth, delivering a 3-0 triumph over Japan on Friday night. This strong performance marked a promising start to the new season for both players, who faced significant challenges in 2025.
Sakkari set the tone for Greece with an emphatic victory, defeating Naomi Osaka in straight sets with a scoreline of 6-4, 6-2. Although Osaka, currently ranked No. 16 in the world and a four-time Grand Slam champion, was hampered by a recent illness, Sakkari’s win is sure to enhance her confidence as they head into the competition. After her match, a visibly relieved Sakkari reflected on her journey back onto the court. “You enter your first match with a bit of hesitance, trying not to let the pressure overwhelm you. I focused on executing the strategies I practiced, and I feel like I’m building my game step by step,” she explained.
This match marked the first encounter between Sakkari and Osaka in nearly five years. Sakkari quickly took control, storming to a 2-0 lead right from the start. After a brief hiccup where Osaka broke back, Sakkari refocused and eventually dominated the set, achieving a brilliant backhand winner to seal it. “I hit many good backhand winners, but I also had my fair share of errors. It was crucial to be aggressive and take control of the points,” Sakkari said.
In the second set, Sakkari maintained her momentum, battling through early pressure by repelling two break points. She then broke Osaka again, extending her lead to 3-1 and never looking back, wrapping up the match in an hour and 38 minutes. With this victory, Sakkari evened her head-to-head record against Osaka to three wins apiece.
Osaka, despite her struggles, remained optimistic, saying, “I felt like I could have been more aggressive on my returns. I’m still learning to not fear making mistakes and to play more freely.”
Tsitsipas followed suit, sealing Greece’s victory with a solid performance against Shintaro Mochizuki, prevailing 6-3, 6-4. After a lengthy layoff due to a back injury, Tsitsipas expressed gratitude for being back on the court, stating, “These past few months have been tough, filled with uncertainties. I’m thankful to be competing again, and I hope to keep this momentum going.”
Once ranked in the top ten, Tsitsipas now finds himself at No. 36 in the ATP rankings after a challenging past season. However, he demonstrated renewed vigor as he faced Mochizuki for the first time. Tsitsipas’s powerful strikes and precise placement were evident throughout the match, marking a robust return to form as he eyes a return to the upper echelons of men’s tennis.
The mixed doubles match concluded the evening with a victory for Sakkari and Tsitsipas, who overcame the Japanese pair of Nao Hibino and Yasutaka Uchiyama with a score of 6-2, 6-3. Their clean sweep over Japan positions Greece favorably as they look ahead to challenging encounters in Group E against Great Britain and beyond.
As for the Australian team, hopes for a smooth start against Norway were dampened by the news that Maya Joint would not compete due to illness. Team captain Lleyton Hewitt expressed optimism, noting that he hopes Joint will recover quickly. Meanwhile, if Joint is unable to compete, World No. 164 Maddison Inglis is poised to step in.
With the stage set and the competition heating up, the United Cup promises to showcase thrilling matches as nations vie for victory, fueled by the determination and talent of their top players.
