Maria Sakkari Delivers Early Shot of the Tournament in Australian Open Opener
MELBOURNE - It didn’t take long for the 2024 Australian Open to produce a moment that had fans - and even the player herself - in disbelief. Maria Sakkari, the Greek powerhouse known for her grit and athleticism, pulled off a shot in her first-round match that might already be the highlight of the tournament.
Up a set and leading 4-2 in the second against France’s Leolia Jeanjean, Sakkari found herself stretched wide on the return. What followed was less a textbook play and more a moment of pure instinct and athletic brilliance.
Jeanjean’s serve had enough curl to seemingly pull Sakkari out of position. But Sakkari, fully extended, somehow got her racquet on the ball and sent it back with just enough pace and placement to leave everyone stunned - including Jeanjean, who had already started creeping toward the net, expecting a soft return. Instead, Sakkari’s shot whipped past her, landing just inside the line and prompting a stunned reaction from both players.
“Top one by far,” Sakkari told reporters afterward when asked where the shot ranks in her career. “It’s not every day you hit this kind of a shot.”
It wasn’t just the degree of difficulty - it was the improvisation, the timing, and the sheer audacity of the attempt. Sakkari admitted she didn’t plan it, didn’t think it was even possible in the moment.
“I didn’t know what to think because I never thought I could hit that kind of a shot,” she said. “It was just so natural, I just hit and I was praying it was gonna go in.”
It did - and then some.
The moment added flair to what was already a commanding performance. Sakkari closed out the match in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2, showing both her trademark physicality and a calm control that suggests she’s settled and focused in Melbourne.
The win sends her into the second round, where she’ll face either Donna Vekic or the rising teen star Mirra Andreeva. Sakkari has never faced Andreeva before, setting up a potential intriguing matchup if the young Russian advances.
But for now, the shot is the story. It’s the kind of play that gets replayed across highlight reels and social feeds, the kind of moment that can spark a deep run - or at the very least, remind everyone just how dangerous Sakkari can be when she’s playing loose and confident.
One match in, and she’s already delivered a moment fans won’t forget.