Maria Sakkari advances to the round of 32 at the China Open

Greek tennis player Maria Sakkari, currently ranked 33rd in the world, successfully advanced to the round of 32 at the WTA 1000 China Open in Beijing. In her opening match on October 3, 2026, Sakkari defeated 32-year-old Australian Storm Hunter, ranked 17th, with a decisive score of 6-2, 6-2. The match lasted 73 minutes, with Sakkari dominating both sets through aggressive play, recording three service breaks in each set to secure her progression in the tournament.

Sakkari's next opponent will be Ukrainian Elina Svitolina, ranked 7th globally. Svitolina earned her place in the upcoming match after overcoming a difficult start against Czech player Katerina Siniakova, winning 1-6, 6-4, 6-2. The match between Sakkari and Svitolina, which carries a spot in the round of 16 of the Beijing tournament, is scheduled to take place on Monday, October 5, 2026.