Maria Sakkari booked her place in the second round of the 2026 Australian Open with a convincing 6-4, 6-2 win over France’s Léolia Jeanjean.
The Greek star produced a standout moment of the match with a logic-defying forehand return curled around the net post, which she immediately described as the best shot of her career.
“I’ve been playing for 25 years. I could never imagine I can hit that kind of return. You see when Roger hits it, Carlos, and then myself. I’m like ‘Ah.’ I’m pretty sure it’s going to make probably one of the best shots of the tournament,” Sakkari said.
After a slow start that saw her fall behind 1-4 in the opening set, Sakkari responded strongly, winning five straight games to take control of the match.
Her performance highlighted the renewed physical and mental resilience she has developed following a difficult 2024 season marked by shoulder surgery and inconsistent form.
Source: Tennis Majors.
