A stunning comeback and… a stunning victory for Maria Sakkari!
In a match that was delayed for several hours due to heavy rain, the Greek tennis player (No. 35) defeated the American, Robin Montgomery, after a 2-hour, 14-minute match, celebrating her advancement to the second round of the US Open!
The match did not start well at all for the 31-year-old athlete, as her opponent, ranked No. 187 in the world, completely dominated the court and, with three breaks of Maria’s serve, took the first set 6-2.
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In fact, with her confidence sky-high, the 21-year-old American, with two more breaks at the start of the second set, took a 4-0 lead in games, appearing to be… racing toward victory!
At some point, however, Sakkari “woke up,” dramatically raised her level of play, and with impressive shots, brimming with confidence and mental toughness, pushed her opponent to the ropes and tied the set at 1-1, winning seven of the next eight games (7-5)!
Just like that, the momentum of the match completely shifted, with Maria “dancing” across the court, playing top-level tennis! With her serve as her ally, the Greek player managed to break Montgomery’s serve twice and take the set 6-2, with her outburst of joy at the end being the highlight of the night!
Sakkari’s next opponent on her path to the round of 32 at the U.S. Grand Slam is Ukrainian player Gulia Starodubtseva, ranked No. 58 in the world.
*photo source: AP
