Maria Sakkari made a winning start at the Hong Kong Open by defeating American Carol Lee 6-1, 6-4 to reach the second round.
The Greek tennis player, competing in her final tournament of 2026, required two contrasting sets at the WTA 250 event to secure her victory and advance to the round of 16.
Sakkari dominated the opening set from the outset. After racing to a quick 3-0 lead, she maintained the same tempo to push her advantage to 5-0, wrapping up the set 6-1 in 39 minutes. Her 24-year-old opponent, ranked world number 153, managed only to avoid a bagel before Sakkari closed out the opener.
Lee offered much stronger resistance in the second set, raising her game to stay on equal terms through the first eight games to reach 4-4. Sakkari responded by stepping up the pressure in the ninth game, securing a break of serve without conceding a single point to take a 5-4 lead. She then held her own serve to complete the 6-4 victory.
Maria Sakkari career record
Sakkari has established herself as Greece's leading female tennis player, having reached a career-high world ranking of number three and collected titles on the WTA Tour. Known for her athleticism, conditioning, and heavy groundstrokes, she has previously reached the semi-finals of both Roland Garros and the US Open.
The Hong Kong event is part of the WTA 250 series, played on outdoor hard courts during the closing stages of the professional tennis season. The category awards 250 ranking points to the singles champion and offers competitors an important opportunity to finish their campaigns strongly.
Hong Kong Open next round
In the next round, Sakkari will face Australian opposition, meeting either Maddison Inglis or Maya Joint. The round of 16 encounter is scheduled for the morning of Tuesday, November 3.
Both potential opponents represent Australia on the international circuit. Inglis has competed extensively across the Grand Slam and ITF levels, while Joint is a rising Australian prospect competing for ranking points on the women's professional tour.
