Maria Sakkari’s Dramatic Rise: How the Greek Powerhouse Became Tennis’s Hottest Story in 2025

Dateline: Tokyo – 19 October 2025 Greek No. 1 Maria Sakkari is one win away from the Toray Pan Pacific Open main draw after a hard-fought 7-5, 6-3 victory over Turkey’s Zeynep Sonmez in Saturday’s first-round qualifier. The match, played under the lights at Ariake Coliseum, lasted 96 minutes and showcased flashes of the fearless baseline aggression that carried Sakkari to a career-high No. 3 world ranking in 2022. The 28-year-old now meets Dutch left-hander Suzan Lamens this evening in the qualifying final, with the winner booking a spot in Monday’s WTA 500 draw. A crucial confidence boost Sakkari arrived in Tokyo ranked No. 55 after a stop-start 2024 season derailed by a lingering shoulder injury. The Greek has been candid about the mental toll of sliding out of the Top 10 and twice changing coaches within 12 months, before reuniting with longtime mentor Tom Hill this summer. Saturday’s clean performance—just one double fault and a 72 percent first-serve conversion—suggests the partnership is clicking again at precisely the right time. Road back to the elite eight Although Sakkari’s ranking means she is fighting through qualifying this week, the event offers a lucrative 470 ranking points for the champion. A deep Tokyo run would position her to return to the Top 40 ahead of the season-closing swing in Zhuhai and Cancun. “My goal is to finish the year in a place that reflects my level,” Sakkari said courtside. “I know I can compete with anyone when I trust my weapons.” What’s at stake tonight Lamens, ranked No. 123, upset British No. 1 Katie Boulter yesterday to reach the qualifying final. The Dutch lefty’s heavy topspin forehand could test Sakkari’s backhand corner, but the Greek leads their head-to-head 1-0 after a straight-sets win at the 2023 Rabat Open. Victory would extend Sakkari’s winning streak to five matches dating back to last week’s ITF title run in Ningbo. How to watch and live-stream The qualifying final is scheduled not before 6 p.m. local time (GMT +9) on Court 1. Fans can stream the match live on WTA TV in most territories; a free one-week trial is available for new subscribers. In Greece, Cosmote Sport holds exclusive broadcast rights, while Tennis Channel will carry coverage in the United States. Path in the main draw Should she advance, Sakkari is projected to face No. 8 seed Madison Keys in the opening round, with World No. 1 Iga Swiatek lurking in the top quarter. The fast indoor-hard conditions historically favor Sakkari’s explosive first step and forehand, as evidenced by her semifinal run here in 2021. Keys to Sakkari’s resurgence • First-serve percentage: Above 70 percent in four of her last five matches. • Forehand winners: Averaging 18 per match this month, up from 12 in August. • Mental reset: Daily visualization sessions introduced by performance coach Kostas Tambakos, credited with helping her stay “in the present” on big points. Greek tennis on the rise With Stefanos Tsitsipas back in the Top 5 on the ATP side and teenager Dimitra Papamichail breaking into the WTA Top 200, Greek tennis is enjoying unprecedented depth. A strong week in Tokyo could cement Sakkari’s role as the movement’s standard-bearer heading into 2026. Up next First serve against Lamens is only hours away. If Sakkari can maintain the aggressive court positioning she displayed against Sonmez—and keep the double faults in check—Tokyo might just be the springboard for another trademark late-season surge.