"That was my plan anyway": Sick Sakkari jokes after early exit with ease to Pliskova at Porsche Tennis Grand Prix

Maria Sakkari returned to action for the first time on her preferred surface clay of the season, but it wasn't a happy first foray for the Greek who lost with ease 2-6, 3-6 to Karolina Pliskova at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart.

Sakkari though saw the funny side in the defeat in a reply to journalist Jose Morgado.

He said that she has spent the past week sick and a week in Portugal without practicing before heading to Germany.

As well as stating that she now has work to do ahead of the two big WTA 1000 tournaments pre Roland Garros in Madrid and Rome and she just responded "that was my plan anyway (winky face)."

As alluded to, Sakkari spent the prior week in Portugal not playing in a weakened Greek side at the Billie Jean King Cup and will now look to shake off any illness ahead of future tournaments.

Next up for Pliskova is Donna Vekic in the Last 16, this in the same section as Iga Swiatek who begins her campaign on Thursday.