Maria Sakkari‘s Australian Open journey started on a challenging note, but she managed to overcome the hurdles and secure a convincing 6-4 6-1 victory over Nao Hibino in the first round, putting to rest the haunting memories of her early Grand Slam exits in the previous season.
The opening set was a tough ride for the eighth-seeded Sakkari, who seemed to be grappling with the weight of her past disappointments. Having suffered first-round exits at Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and the US Open last season, the pressure was on for the Greek star.