Preview WTA Athens Open Final | Maria Sakkari chases home glory against Barbora Krejcikova in historic clash

Sunday, 19 July 2026 at 09:21

The WTA 250 Athens Open will crown its champion on Sunday as hometown favourite Maria Sakkari faces third seed Barbora Krejcikova in a final filled with history and personal significance. The WTA Tour’s return to Athens for the first time in 35 years has already produced a special moment for Greek tennis, with Sakkari reaching the championship match 40 years after her mother Angeliki Kanellopoulou achieved the same feat in the Greek capital.

Sakkari booked her place in the final with a 6-1, 7-5 victory over teenage sensation Alina Korneeva, extending her perfect week without dropping a set. Krejcikova, meanwhile, survived a tougher semifinal against Clara Tauson, finally losing her first set of the tournament before advancing after previous straight-set wins throughout her run.

The final will mark the 11th championship match of Sakkari’s career as she searches for her third WTA title at age 30, while Krejcikova enters her latest final as a two-time Grand Slam champion looking to continue her return toward the top of the rankings.

For Sakkari, the occasion carries an emotional weight beyond the trophy. For Krejcikova, it represents another opportunity to prove she remains among the elite players after a challenging period.

Maria Sakkari chasing hometown glory and third career title

Maria Sakkari arrives at the Athens Open final as the No. 37 player in the world and the centre of attention in the Greek capital. The 30-year-old has enjoyed a perfect week so far, winning all four matches without losing a set on home soil.

The Greek star defeated Polina Kudermetova, Harriet Dart, Alycia Parks and Alina Korneeva to reach her first final since Indian Wells 2024. Against Korneeva, Sakkari dominated the opening set before facing pressure late in the match, when the 19-year-old broke while she was serving for the victory. However, Sakkari responded immediately and converted five of six break-point opportunities overall to secure a 6-1, 7-5 win in one hour and 23 minutes.

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The victory created one of the most emotional moments of the tournament, as Sakkari celebrated with her mother in the stands after addressing the Athens crowd in Greek. “I want to do a step further than my mom did 40 years ago – I’m going to try to win tomorrow,” Sakkari said after reaching the final.

Sunday will be Sakkari’s 11th WTA final and her opportunity to capture a third career title. Although she will remain No. 33 in the rankings regardless of the final result, the tournament has strengthened her position in the race for a seeded place at the upcoming US Open, where she will look to collect additional points in the coming weeks.

Maria Sakkari will look for her third WTA-level title after 11 finals.

Sakkari’s path to the final

Round	Opponent	Result
1R	Polina Kudermetova	6-0, 7-6
2R	Harriet Dart	6-1, 6-2
QF	Alycia Parks	6-4, 6-3
SF	Alina Korneeva	6-1, 7-5
F	Barbora Krejcikova	-

Barbora Krejcikova looks to continue comeback with Athens title

Barbora Krejcikova reached the Athens final as the third seed and has continued building momentum during a tournament that has already secured her return to the top 30. The Czech player defeated Victoria Tomova, Carole Monnet, Zheng Qinwen and Clara Tauson on her way to the championship match.

The former World No. 2 had been dominant throughout the opening rounds, winning her first three matches in straight sets before finally dropping a set against Tauson in the semifinals. Despite that challenge, Krejcikova showed her experience to overcome the Danish youngster and reach another WTA final.

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The 30-year-old arrives with a much stronger résumé than her opponent, having won the 2021 Roland Garros title and Wimbledon in 2024. Athens represents another important step as she continues her return toward the upper levels of the rankings.

Krejcikova has dominated the previous rivalry against Sakkari, winning all three of their meetings. Their history includes a dramatic Roland Garros semifinal in 2021, where Krejcikova saved a match point before defeating Sakkari 9-7 in the third set on her way to winning her first Grand Slam title.

Barbora Krejcikova will be seeking her 9th career title in her 15th WTA final.

Krejcikova’s path to the final

Round	Opponent	Result
1R	Victoria Tomova	6-3, 6-3
2R	Carole Monnet	6-0, 6-2
QF	Zheng Qinwen	6-4, 6-4
SF	Clara Tauson	6-1, 4-6, 6-3
F	Maria Sakkari	-

Head-to-head: Krejcikova leads Sakkari 2-0 in WTA meetings

The Athens final will be the third WTA-level meeting between Maria Sakkari and Barbora Krejcikova, with the Czech holding a 2-0 advantage in their official WTA Head2Head record.

Their first encounter came in an ITF tournament final back in 2014, which is not included in the official WTA statistics, before Krejcikova won both of their WTA meetings in 2021. The Czech defeated Sakkari twice during a breakthrough season, first in the Dubai Open semifinals and later in the Roland Garros semifinals.

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The Paris meeting remains one of the most memorable matches of Sakkari’s career. She was within one point of reaching her first Grand Slam final before Krejcikova survived a dramatic deciding set, winning 9-7 and eventually lifting her maiden major trophy.

This time, Sakkari enters with the advantage of playing in front of her home crowd and carrying the emotional momentum of a historic Athens run. Krejcikova, meanwhile, brings the confidence of having won all previous WTA meetings and the experience of performing on the biggest stages.

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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