A huge assignment awaits Greece as they prepare to go head-to-head with Germany in the United Cup quarter-finals after booking their place with a remarkable clean sweep win over Canada.
Greece managed to win all three of the matches in their tie with Canada on Wednesday evening, allowing them to top the group and set up a massive quarter-final clash with Germany.
The tie saw all of Greece’s players score impressive straight-set wins with Stefanos Tsitsipas beating Steven Diez 6-2, 6-3, Maria Sakkari downing Leylah Fernandez 7-6 (7-2), 6-3 and the team of Petros Tsitsipas and Despina Papamichail defeating Felix Auger-Aliassime and Stacey Fung 7-5, 6-4.
The tie was not as simple as the 3-0 result suggests, with Sakkari playing a whopping 85-minute opening set against Fernandez (over 2hr match in total) and the mixed doubles pair fighting back from 4-1 down in the first set to earn their victory and complete the clean sweep.
Answering Neos Kosmos’ question regarding this great achievement, Despina Papamichail stated her immense joy with the result of the tie, particularly given their 2-1 loss to Chile on Tuesday.
“We are really proud and happy. Yesterday was a tough day, but we stuck together as a team. We all gave our best. We have great examples to follow in Stefanos and Maria. They played amazing today,” she said in response to Neos Kosmos’ question at the media conference following play.
“We could not afford to give less. We fought. Petros and I played at a great level, as well, and we are extremely happy for that.”
Echoing Papamichail’s sentiments, her doubles partner and team captain, Petros Tsitsipas, expressed his satisfaction in Greece advancing to the next stage.
“We are all super happy and excited to be in the quarterfinals, once again. Yeah, Stef played well. Maria played great. Me and Despina played unexpectedly very good as well. So the whole team has a good level, good vibes with each other. We are going to keep it up for the next week,” he said.
Greece will now battle Germany on Friday evening, a team with huge players in Angelique Kerber (three-time Grand Slam champion) and Alexander Zverev (former World No.2), something which Maria Sakkari and Stefanos Tsitsipas are not underestimating.
“I saw her the other day. She looks very happy. Obviously she has the experience. Now she has an extra strength after becoming a mom. It’s going to be very tough…she is, as I said, very experienced. It is going to be a challenge, but I am ready for it,” Sakkari said.
“The matches are always close. (Zverev’s) a great competitor. He has been there for more years than any other player in my generation. He definitely knows what’s up and what’s going on,” Tsitsipas said.
“He is at a good phase of his career. He just came back a few months ago, so he is looking good, he is looking sharp. For me that is another occasion to step up my game and show some good quality tennis.”
