United Cup: Maria Sakkari gets revenge on Emma Raducanu and Greece knock Great Britain

One of the most anticipated ties of the United Cup group stage saw Stefanos Tsitsipas and Maria Sakkari deliver victories over their British opponents — led by Billy Harris and Emma Raducanu — sealing Greece’s place in the quarter-finals and eliminating Great Britain even before the mixed doubles was played.

Greece arrived at this year’s event in a particularly difficult moment, with Tsitsipas ranked World No. 34 and Sakkari No. 52 — far from previous seasons when both were regular Top 10 players and Greece were among the favourites. However, they have started the season in the best possible way, securing two more wins and advancing from the group after winning all five matches they have played so far.

World No. 124 Billy Harris faced a tough task this week as a late replacement for the injured Jack Draper, who withdrew from the tournament at the last minute. Harris had responded well in his opening match with a win over Japan, but this time the challenge was far greater against former World No. 3 Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Despite the odds, Harris showed great composure from the start, earning an early break that he held onto throughout the opening set. The 30-year-old Brit was solid on serve, while Tsitsipas struggled to find answers. Harris won 80% of points on serve and closed out the set 6–4.

Tsitsipas responded strongly in the second set, breaking twice early and racing out to a 5–0 lead behind dominant service games. The former World No. 3 conceded just four points on serve and forced a decider.

Although the final set was closely contested, Tsitsipas’ greater experience in these situations proved decisive. He missed a couple of break opportunities at 4–4, and the match was eventually settled in a tie-break, where an early mini-break helped him seal a 4–6, 6–1, 7–6(4) victory to give Greece the opening point of the tie.

One of the standout matches of the opening rounds featured a fifth career meeting between Maria Sakkari and Emma Raducanu, with the experienced Greek finally gaining revenge after four consecutive defeats to the Brit. Their first encounter came in the semi-finals of the 2021 US Open — a tournament where Sakkari was considered a strong title contender, but which ultimately ended with Raducanu’s unexpected triumph.

Sakkari made a shaky start, dropping her serve early as Raducanu took the lead. However, she quickly regrouped, winning six of the next seven games to claim the first set 6–3. Both players had break chances, but Sakkari was far more efficient in the key moments.

The second set was defined by missed opportunities on both sides and was ultimately decided by fine margins. Each player faced seven break points, but Raducanu converted two while Sakkari managed just one. Double faults proved costly for the Brit, who hit four in the set.

In the deciding set, Sakkari raised her level dramatically and took complete control. An erratic Raducanu was unable to match the former World No. 3’s intensity, and after both held serve early, Sakkari reeled off five consecutive games to secure an emphatic victory. The Greek won 18 of the final 20 points, including a run of 10 straight points on serve.

With the win, Greece secured top spot in the group and will face Switzerland — led by Stan Wawrinka and Belinda Bencic — in the knockout stage. Switzerland booked their place a day earlier with an epic victory over Italy.

The doubles match against Great Britain will still be played, although the British team no longer has any mathematical chance of progressing — not even as the best runner-up from Perth — while Greece have already locked up first place in the group.

Despina Papamichail and Stefanos Sakellaridis will take the court for Greece, facing British specialists Neil Skupski and Olivia Nicholls.