Maria Sakkari has booked her place in the final 16 of the Australian Open after a strong performance against No.28 seed Kudermetova who she defeated in straight sets (6-4, 6-1).

From 3-1 down in the opener, Sakkari wore the Russian down in an eventual 82-minute victory. Kudermetova, who racked up 32 unforced errors to just 12 winners, also took an on-court medical timeout while trailing 4-3 in the first set, and won just two more games from then on.

“It has been a great start, not dropping a set, not getting too tired in my first matches, just finishing the matches in time,” Sakkari said.

Greece lightning 🇬🇷@mariasakkari sails past Veronika Kudermetova 6-4 6-1 to reach Week 2.#AusOpen • #AO2022 pic.twitter.com/P0aIhJFxRI

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2022

“It feels great because I feel fresh and I feel ready for the second week. I know that from now on matches are going to get tougher. Not that they were easy, I don’t want to sound like that. I think I managed well, my emotions. Haven’t been playing maybe my best tennis but I know it’s going to come. Mentally I have been in a very good place which I think is the most important thing.”

Sakkari will next face American Jessica Pegula, the No.21 seed, and 2021 quarterfinalist.

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