Maria Sakkari's torrid Grand Slam record continues after three-set first round loss to Camila Osorio at Australian Open

While Maria Sakkari showed some glimmers of hope today after her stark demise last year, it was still yet another first round exit for a player who given her calibre is not delivering on it as she was defeated at the Australian Open by Camila Osorio.

Sakkari lost 6-4, 6-7, 6-4 in favour of the Colombian who was a tough draw anyway but will now get a resurgent Ons Jabeur in the second round. While the Greek goes home for the sixth time in the last eight Grand Slams.

From a top five stalwart to quickly sinking down the rankings, Sakkari needs to arrest the slide and fast. She has shown signs that she wants to having played qualifying for tournaments due to her ranking and getting match practice in after a shoulder injury that blighted her.

Read also

Tournament Centre Australian Open 2025: Schedule, results, Prize Money and TV Guide

But with the Sunshine Double realistically being the next big assignment in March, Indian Wells and Miami where she had her brief stint with David Witt is where the big return needs to happen. She reached the final at Indian Wells and the Quarter-Finals at least in every single tournament until Roland Garros where she parted ways with Witt.

That was the last semblance of any form for Sakkari who hired Sergi Bruguera following that but got a shoulder injury which saw her play both the Olympics and US Open injured. She returned 100% at the United Cup but lost to Jessica Bouzas Maneiro and Elena Rybakina as Greece were quickly skittled out of the tournament. This did not show any glimmer of hope for a quick revival at any rate.

But it is not only Sakkari that Greek hopes are fading on as Stefanos Tsitsipas also lost early yesterday and like Sakkari has shone so bright but it seems like for both their nine lives are slowly running out and they need a real run to return to prominance.

Easier said than done also for a player like Sakkari who now not being a top seed is in the danger zone. She could easily face the Sabalenka's, Swiatek's of the world very early in tournaments which kind of starts a downward spiral where wins become increasingly difficult to come by.

Great at the top but pretty damning at the bottom. She was a lot better today against Osorio but it shows still the stark reality of the task at hand for the Spartan as she aims to rule once more.

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Unlock your ultimate tennis experience—subscribe today for exclusive access to top stories.

Subscribe