MATCH REPORT | 2024 Australian Open: Maria SAKKARI cruises into round two with ease, overpowering Nao Hibino

Maria Sakkari (No. 8), not playing at her best, overcame an erratic Nao Hibino (No. 92) with a score of 6-4, 6-1, advancing to the second round of the 2024 Australian Open. The Greek tennis player had not secured a victory in a Grand Slam in her last three appearances and will now face Russian Elena Avanesyan (No. 71).

Sakkari only participated in the United Cup in the weeks leading up to the first Grand Slam of the year, delivering an excellent performance by winning all three of her individual matches, including victories over Leylah Fernandez (No. 35) and former world No. 1 Angelique Kerber.

Nao Hibino began the season in the qualifying rounds of the WTA 250 Hobart Open but fell in the first round against Yulia Putintseva. The Japanese player had faced Sakkari only once in her career, precisely at the 2020 Aussie Open, where the Greek emerged victorious.

In the early stages of the match, both players showed uncertainties in their serves. Sakkari initially secured a break in the second game, taking a 2-0 lead, but the Japanese player quickly recovered, leveling the set at 2-2. The game balanced out with both players exhibiting irregular form. Sakkari recorded 10 winners and 20 unforced errors, while Hibino posted 6 winners and 17 unforced errors.

Sakkari capitalized on the errors, seizing the first opportunity in the ninth game to secure a break and then take the set 6-4.

In the second set, Sakkari came out with the intention of controlling points from the baseline and worked the rallies more, pressuring her opponent into making mistakes. The strategy proved effective for the Greek player, who was impenetrable on the return and secured two consecutive breaks to take a commanding 5-0 lead in just 20 minutes.

Although Hibino managed to win one more service game, Sakkari did not give her any chances for a comeback and closed out the match 6-4, 6-1. With this victory, the former world No. 3 secures her first Grand Slam win since the 2023 Australian Open, after three consecutive first-round exits. In the second round, she will face Russian Elena Avanesyan (No. 71), who defeated Zhuoxuan Bai (No. 87) with a score of 4-6, 7-5, 6-2.