Maria Sakkari advances to the next round at the Wuhan Open

Maria Sakkari secured a victory in the first round of the Wuhan Open on October 12, 2026, defeating Donna Vekic in straight sets, 6-4 and 6-2. The match lasted one hour and 39 minutes. Although Vekic, currently ranked 36th in the world, initially led the first set 4-2, Sakkari rallied to win four consecutive games and claim the set. In the second set, Sakkari maintained control, breaking her opponent's serve multiple times to finish the match in her favor. This tournament marks Sakkari's return to the event after an eight-year absence.

Following this win, Sakkari is scheduled to face Ukrainian player Marta Kostyuk, who is currently ranked 10th in the world, in the round of 32. The match is set to take place on Tuesday morning, October 13, at 10:00. This upcoming encounter serves as a rematch for the two athletes, as they last met during the Paris Olympic Games in July 2024, where Kostyuk defeated Sakkari.