Maria Sakkari delivered a commanding performance at the Mutua Madrid Open, upsetting No.6 seed Jasmine Paolini 6-2, 6-1 to advance to the Round of 16.
The Greek star, who has been working her way back into form, produced her most significant victory of the season by dismantling Paolini in just over an hour. It marks Sakkari’s first appearance in a WTA 1000 Round of 16 since last year’s Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome.
“I was clear on what I had to do,” Sakkari said post-match. “I just went out and executed it perfectly. I didn’t give her any room to breathe — that was the goal against a very good player.”
Sunday’s win also snapped a frustrating 0-8 streak against Top 10 opponents, dating back to 2023. On clay, Sakkari now holds an even 6-6 record against Top 10 players, a testament to her resilience amid a challenging year.
Sakkari, a former world No.3, has reunited with longtime coach Tom Hill after a brief split, crediting their renewed partnership for her recent improvements.
“We’re two people with the same ambitions and goals,” Sakkari said. “He knows my game like no one else, and it feels like the pieces are coming together.”
Sakkari dominated her match against Paolini with six aces and broke the Italian’s serve six times while conceding her own serve only once. With three consecutive wins under her belt, she will next face No.17 seed Elina Svitolina, with their head-to-head locked at 2-2. Notably, this will be their first clash on clay.
The Madrid Open has seen several major upsets, with No.3 Jessica Pegula also falling to Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima, who secured her first career Top 10 win. However, it was Sakkari’s emphatic statement that stole the spotlight, showing she remains a serious contender as the clay season heats up.
“I’m staying humble with my expectations,” Sakkari added. “But it feels like a good step forward.”
