AO 2024 Women’s Day 1

Maria Sakkari repeated an Australian Open victory from four years ago as the eight seed schooled Japan’s Nao Hibino 6-4, 6-1 on Sunday to start her campaign at the first Grand Slam of 2024.

Sakkari kept her first-round record at the four majors to 22-9 and 6-2 at Melbourne park. Her win ended a demoralising loss streak at the big events.

“This is super good because after losing three first rounds in the last three Grand Slams; it was very important for me.

“I was quite nervous before going into the match, but now I feel relieved.

The Greek has a career best in Melbourne of the third round a year ago.

“I’m just feeling very good with my game because I really did some changes.

I really worked hard. 

“Believe it or not, I put in more hours than usual.

“I had a very good preseason.. I think things will start clicking sometime soon.”

Czech ninth seed Barbora Krejcikova beat Mai Hontma of Japan, with the former Roland Garros champion pounding out a 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 fightback.

“It was a really difficult match. I was set down break down,” last week’s first-round Adelaide loser said.

“I felt I wasn’t really playing my best tennis, and also felt she was playing really well.

“I’m really happy with the way I was able to turn around the second set, with the way I switched my game. The second set was maybe the key, and then I feel in the third definitely a break at 4-3 was the key to get the win.”

Krejcikova owns two women’s doubles titles and three mixed doubles titles at Melbourne Park .

American Amanda Anisimova, who twice reached the fourth round here, defeated Liudmila Samsonova 6-3, 6-4 

Anisimova missed more than half of last season through injury and made her return to the WTA only this month in Auckland, winning her opening match.

She came from a break down in both sets and won the last five games to advance.

Canadian Leylah Fernandez, the US Open runner-up three years ago. put out teenaged Czech Sara Bejlek. finishing with 27 winners .

Fernandez needs one more win to earn her best-eve showing of the third round here 

“It was a good match,” the winner said. “It wasn’t a perfect match, but I’m just glad that I was able to fight through some of the tough moments that I encountered in the first set and just kept fighting. 

“When I had my chance to close it out in the breaker, I was just happy that I was able to execute it.”

Main photo:- Maria Sakkari Photo Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd

Bill Scott

Recent Posts

Davis Cup Final to mark Nadal goodbye to tennis

Rafael Nadal will bring down the curtain on his career next month as he plays his…

3 weeks ago

Wimbledon lowers the boom on human linecalling

Wimbledon on Wednesday brought an end to human linecalling at the most traditional of the…

3 weeks ago

Djokovic rolls Cobolli as Shanghai fights to restore order

Novak Djokovic returned to action after waiting tow days to play as the rain-hit Shanghai…

4 weeks ago

Innocent umpiring error screws Stan in Shanghai

Stan Wawrinka may have been inadvertently short-changed during Monday's third-round loss at the Shanghai Masters…

4 weeks ago

Sinner sweeps Fritz to win US Open

Jannik Sinner schooled Taylor Fritz 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 to win his second Grand Slam title…

2 months ago

Sabalenka wins Open title for Grand Slam hat-trick

Aryana Sabalenka completed a Grand Slam title hat-trick on Saturday as she fought from 5-3…

2 months ago