Sakkari & Tsitsipas send Greece to Final Four at United Cup with mixed doubles win

| by Balasz Virag

Greece joined the United States and Poland in the Final Four of the inaugural United Cup after a close victory over Croatia in the City Final in Perth.

It all started with a women's singles match between world no. 158 Despina Papamichail and former no. 19 Donna Vekic. The Croatian was the dominant player from start to finish as she won 9 consecutive games since the scoreboard showed 3-2 in the first set to win 6-2, 6-3 and give her country a 1-0 lead.

Tiafoe, Pegula & Keys send United States to Final Four at United Cup
Tiafoe, Pegula & Keys send United States to Final Four at United Cup

Then, the highest-ranked Greek, Stefanos Tsitsipas, took on Borna Coric. World no. 4 showed that he wants to level the score as he won the first 13 points of the match and destroyed his opponent 6-0 in the first set.

Yet, Coric managed to fight back in the second set, despite facing two match points in the twelfth game of the second set. The Croat won the tie-break 7-4, and the match was decided in the third set. Coric was up 4-1 in the third set, but eventually, he lost the lead, and Tsitsipas won 7-5 to tie the score at 1-1.

Next, the highest-ranked Greek woman stepped on the court against Petra Martic. Despite a less-dominant performance, Maria Sakkari controlled the match and won comfortably 6-3, 6-3 in precisely 100 minutes.

However, Stefanos Sakellaridis, who got his first Tour-level victory just yesterday, couldn't produce the same level against Borna Gojo. The Croat won easily 6-4, 6-2 in an hour and 30 minutes.

After the score was level at 2-2, the mixed doubles had to decide the tie. Greece nominated Sakkari and Tsitsipas to face off against Martic and Gojo. The Greek team had already played two mixed doubles matches at the event and succeeded on both occasions.

On the other hand, it was the first match for their opponents, and it showed on the court. Sakkari and Tsitsipas were a better team and prevailed in the match, winning 7-6(6), 6-4 in an hour and 36 minutes to send their country to the Final Four of the 2023 United Cup.

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