Maria Sakkari has won her opening match at the Charleston Open with a straight set win over Marina Stakusic 6-3, 6-2.
The Greek found herself down 0-3, 0-30 before finding her spark and winning seven straight games en route to victory over the 19-year-old Canadian.
Sakkari won six of the 11 break points she had on Stakusic and had a 70 per cent win rate on her first serve.
“I’m so happy that even though I was a double break down in the first set, I managed to turn things around,” Sakkari said post-match.
“After that, I started playing some great tennis. It’s always tough to play against big hitters like her, she’s a great player, very young and an upcoming player, I’m just so excited to stay longer in Charleston.”
This is the 29-year-old’s fourth time at the event as she looks to build momentum for the clay-season.
Last year she was third seed in Charleston, ranked No.7, and made it to the semi-finals before losing to eventual champion Danielle Collins.
Now she is ranked No.64 after shoulder surgery ended her season early last year.
This win has now set up a second-round showdown with World No.7 Zheng Qinwen.
If Sakkari is to win that match, it will be her first against a top 10 player in more than a year and first on clay since topping defending champion Iga Swiatek at Roland Garros in 2021.
“It’s going to be very tough, hopefully, for both of us,” Sakkari said.
“I’m feeling comfortable on the clay, she has been playing some great tennis … but I’m going to come out and enjoy.”
