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
