Maria Sakkari qualified for the round of 16 of the Paris Olympic Games by defeating China’s Yuan Yu in straight sets, 6-2, 6-1, after 65 minutes of competition.
The Greek champion deservedly achieved participation among the 16 best athletes for the second consecutive event, after the Tokyo Games in 2021.
After yesterday’s victory over Montenegro’s Danka Kovinic in the 58th minute (6-0, 6-1), Sakkari also impressed today, against a player against whom she has already won three matches in the same number.
The match started in the best possible way for her, as with concentration and determination she immobilized her opponent, took two breaks and, reaching 4-1, set the course for events in the first set.
Sakkari started with a break to take a 2-0 lead. Yu responded in kind to lose 2-1, but that was his swansong of the match as his opponent won the next four games to triumph 6-1 and advance.
In the round of 16, Sakkari will face Ukrainian Marta Kostiuk, who in turn eliminated Frenchwoman Clara Burrell 7-6(3), 6-2.