Maria Sakkari's Grand Slam woes continue, retires with injury a set down at 2024 US Open

Yafan Wang is the first player technically through to the second round of the 2024 US Open albeit injury was the cause of the result with Maria Sakkari deciding against continuing 6-2 down.

Sakkari left the court after a lengthy medical timeout which saw her shoulder and neck in particular as a struggle. She has recently withdrawn from both Canada and Cincinnati and has not played since the Olympic Games.

The Greek has still not reached a Grand Slam second week since the 2022 Australian Open albeit of course through differing circumstances this time with the World No.9 visibly hampered.

Read also

US Open 2024 Prize Money with record breaking $75,000,000 on offer

She lost out to Emma Raducanu at Wimbledon when it seemed like she was starting to gain some steam again. While at Roland Garros prior, she lost to Varvara Gracheva. A match that saw her dispense with David Witt.

This was despite recent good results prior to that with her new coach. She has since added Sergi Bruguera to her team in another coaching move after splitting from long-time coach Tom Hill. But it seems like Sakkari instead will need recovery time before defending Guadalajara in a few weeks seemingly not ready to play the US Open this time.

Instead of withdrawing though, it was another chastening defeat for Sakkari who has remained in the top 10 despite her poor run at Grand Slams and only an hour into the US Open this year, she is out and is the biggest seed to fall likely over the opening day.

The Tennis Letter

@TheTennisLetter

·Follow

Maria Sakkari retires from her first round US Open match against Yafan Wang. Very sad to see this. Yafan played well, but Maria just wasn’t healthy. Wishing her a quick recovery. 🙏❤️‍🩹

1.5K

Reply

Copy link

Read 47 replies

The Tennis Letter

@TheTennisLetter

·Follow

Maria Sakkari is being seen by the physio in her first round match at the US Open. It looks like she’s struggling with her shoulder and neck. Hopefully it’s nothing too serious. ❤️‍🩹

243

Reply

Copy link

Read 2 replies