United Cup: Maria Sakkari annihilated by Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in season opener

Maria Sakkari acquired crushed in her opening match of the season after world No. 54 Jessica Bouzas Maneiro handed her a 6-2 6-1 defeat on the United Cup. 

Within the opening match of the Greece and Spain tie, the previous world No. 3 entered as the favourite to win. 

However the Greek tennis star by no means stood an opportunity after dropping her serve a surprising seven occasions and dropping with simply three video games received. 

It was the primary assembly between Sakkari and the Spaniard.

Image good 👌🇪🇸

Jessica Bouzas Maneiro defeats Sakkari 6-2 6-1 to present Staff Spain a 1-0 lead.#UnitedCup pic.twitter.com/LhDO6X4fa4

— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) December 28, 2024

Now, the Greek workforce has depends upon Stefanos Tsitsipas, who should beat Pablo Carreno Busta to ship the tie right into a deciding combined doubles match.

How Bouzas Maneiro beat Sakkari?

Proper from the beginning of the match, the Spaniard had the higher hand and claimed back-to-back breaks to open a 3-0 lead.

Jessica Bouzas Maneiro© United Cup/Instagram – Honest Use

 

Down early by two breaks, the Greek managed to get one break again within the fourth recreation. 

However Sakkari’s serving woes continued as she dropped her serve once more within the seventh recreation earlier than Bouzas Maneiro closed out the opener within the following recreation. 

The world No. 54 continued her run initially of the second set, incomes a break within the very first recreation of the set. 

Whereas the previous world No. 3 acquired the break again immediately within the second recreation, it did not change a lot because the Spaniard received the following 5 video games to finish her two-set win in fairly some model. 

If Tsitsipas beats Carreno Busta, the tie can be resolved by way of a combined doubles match – wherein the top-ranked Greek male tennis participant will seemingly workforce up with Sakkari. 

For the highest-ranked Greek feminine tennis participant, it could be good if that may occur so she will get a shot to bounce again and put the painful singles defeat behind her.