Emma Raducanu's 2026 tennis season got off to a challenging start, as the British number one suffered a three-set defeat in her opening United Cup match against Greece's Maria Sakkari. The 23-year-old, playing her first competitive match since October, fell 4-6, 6-3, 1-6 in Perth.
A Rusty Return After Injury Concerns
Raducanu admitted that stepping onto the court felt "alien" after more than two months without match play. Her participation in the team event came under initial doubt when she withdrew from a scheduled clash with Naomi Osaka just a day earlier. That decision was due to a foot issue that had troubled her at the end of the previous season.
Although team captain Tim Henman stressed the withdrawal was a "marginal decision" and that Raducanu had been "very, very close" to facing Osaka, the caution raised immediate questions about her fitness with the Australian Open fast approaching.
Sakkari Ends Losing Streak Against British Rival
The match carried significant history, with Sakkari having been something of a 'pigeon' for Raducanu in tennis parlance. The Briton had won all four of their previous meetings, dating back to their first encounter during Raducanu's historic 2021 US Open triumph.
However, the Greek world number 51, far from her career-high ranking of third, proved a consistent and battling force. She claimed the first set and, after Raducanu hit back strongly to level the match, dominated the decider. Sakkari won five consecutive games from 2-1 down in the third to seal a decisive victory.
Looking Ahead to Melbourne
Despite the loss, Raducanu struck a positive note in her post-match reflections. "I'm really proud of how I played under the circumstances," she stated, acknowledging she only returned to hitting balls two weeks ago. She described the difficulty of increasing her load and handling the "unpredictability of tennis" after a long break.
"I think today, being able to produce that performance, having not played, is just giving me confidence," Raducanu added. "I know now I need to get my head down, keep working."
The result means Great Britain has been eliminated from the United Cup. Raducanu's focus now shifts to Hobart, where she is expected to compete in a WTA 250 event as her final tune-up before the Australian Open.
Earlier on the same day, British substitute Billy Harris, who replaced the injured Jack Draper, also lost a tight three-set match to Stefanos Tsitsipas, 6-4, 1-6, 6-7(4).
