Quick Read
- Maria Sakkari secured her first-ever victory against Emma Raducanu (6-4, 3-6, 6-1) at the 2026 United Cup.
- Sakkari’s win, combined with Stefanos Tsitsipas’s triumph over Billy Harris (4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (4)), propelled Greece into the United Cup quarterfinals.
- This marks Greece’s third advancement to the knockout stage in the tournament’s four editions.
- Emma Raducanu was forced to warm up in the dark on an unlit practice court using phone torches due to a lack of floodlights.
- Raducanu had previously withdrawn from her opening United Cup match against Naomi Osaka due to ongoing foot issues.
The 2026 United Cup in Perth delivered a potent mix of drama, determination, and historic firsts, as Greece, led by their formidable duo Maria Sakkari and Stefanos Tsitsipas, secured their passage to the quarterfinals. Their decisive victories over Great Britain not only marked a significant early-season triumph but also showcased the resilience and strategic depth of the Greek team, advancing to the knockout round for the third time in the tournament’s four editions.
Central to this success was Maria Sakkari’s compelling performance against Great Britain’s Emma Raducanu. The match, highly anticipated given Raducanu’s return to competitive play, unfolded against a backdrop of unique pre-game challenges for the British star. Raducanu, ranked World No. 29, found herself preparing for her first match of the 2026 season under less-than-ideal circumstances. After a late withdrawal from her opening tie against Japan’s Naomi Osaka due to ongoing foot issues, concerns mounted about her readiness to face Sakkari.
The confusion began even before the first serve. An on-court emcee at Perth’s RAC Arena mistakenly announced that Katie Swan would replace Raducanu once more, only for Raducanu to emerge, ready to compete. The most striking pre-match visual, however, captured the essence of her challenging return: Raducanu was forced to warm up in the dark. The outside practice courts at the United Cup venue, notoriously lacking floodlights, left her coach Francisco Roig and physiotherapist Emma Stewart improvising with phone torches to illuminate her practice session. Commentator David Culbert, observing the scene, remarked, “This was just a moment ago out on the outside practice court here, sort of in the car park. And there’s no lights out there so teammates with their phone lights to help proceedings. You can see, there’s a road behind them, which helps.” John Fitzgerald added, with a touch of humor, “It’s all about approach, if you can hit the ball in the dark, imagine what you can do in here!” This unusual warm-up underscored the hurdles Raducanu faced, having ended her 2025 season early due to illness and suffering from light bone bruising in her right foot during the off-season, which had led her to skip two exhibition matches in America.
Despite the adversity, Raducanu started strong against Sakkari, breaking serve in the opening game and holding her own to take a 2-0 lead. Her powerful groundstrokes, particularly forehands, initially troubled Sakkari, who struggled with her length. However, the Greek, known for her tenacity and fighting spirit, quickly regrouped. Sakkari, the World No. 52, found her rhythm, winning six of the next seven games to take the first set 6-3. A crucial moment came with an incredible backhand half-volley pass in the penultimate game, igniting the Greek bench and shifting the momentum decisively in her favor.
Raducanu, who had climbed from outside the top 60 to No. 29 in 2025, demonstrated her own resilience in the second set. After Sakkari broke for a 2-1 advantage, Raducanu immediately broke back, initiating a run where she won five of the last six games to secure the second set. The 2021 US Open champion displayed flashes of her Grand Slam-winning form, pushing Sakkari to her limits and reminding everyone of her immense talent, even while battling lingering physical issues.
The deciding third set saw Sakkari seize control. She broke Raducanu in the fourth game, a crucial breakthrough given Raducanu’s impressive defense, having saved 8 of 11 break points opportunities throughout the match. Following a quick service hold, Sakkari surged to a 4-1 lead. This momentum carried her through the remainder of the match, as she finished the third set handily, clinching the victory 6-4, 3-6, 6-1. The win was not just another notch in Sakkari’s belt; it was her first-career victory against Raducanu on the WTA Tour, a significant personal milestone after four previous tough losses. “Emma, I’ve had four tough losses against her so to get that first win against her, against a great opponent, it means a lot, especially delivering for Team Greece,” Sakkari shared on-court, her relief and pride palpable.
Maria Sakkari’s win was set up by a hard-fought battle earlier in the day, where Stefanos Tsitsipas, the Greek men’s No. 1, rallied to defeat Great Britain’s Billy Harris. Tsitsipas, ranked No. 36 in the PIF ATP Rankings, secured a 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (4) victory after a two-hour and 15-minute clash. Despite struggling with his backhand early on, the 27-year-old found his range on his forehand and held his nerve in the third-set tie-break. This win gave Greece a vital 1-0 lead in the tie. Tsitsipas, reflecting on his performance, expressed his determination: “I got fed up losing matches like that [last year]. I lost one in September and I just tried everything in my power to not have the same thing happen again. I am grateful to overcome that. It had a crazy energy out here.” He also praised Harris, acknowledging the high quality of the match. This victory marked Tsitsipas’s first consecutive wins since Barcelona last April, signaling a strong start to his 2026 season.
With both Sakkari and Tsitsipas securing their singles matches, Greece clinched the Group E tie against Great Britain before the mixed doubles match even began. This decisive performance secured their spot in the United Cup quarterfinals for the third time in the tournament’s four editions, a testament to the consistent strength of their national team. Sakkari’s unblemished 2-0 singles record at the start of the season, including a victory over Naomi Osaka in their win against Japan, further solidified her crucial role in Greece’s early success. The United Cup, a mixed-gender team tournament, often hinges on such individual heroics, and the Greek stars delivered emphatically.
The combined efforts of Maria Sakkari and Stefanos Tsitsipas at the 2026 United Cup underscore the profound impact of individual resilience and team synergy in high-stakes competition. Sakkari’s breakthrough win against Raducanu, especially after a challenging personal history against her, not only propelled Greece into the quarterfinals but also served as a powerful declaration for her own season, suggesting a renewed mental fortitude that could define her year.