Japan's Naomi Osaka has begun her 2026 season with a straight-sets defeat at the United Cup, falling to Greece's Maria Sakkari while visibly under the weather. The match at Perth's RAC Arena saw Sakkari triumph 6-4, 6-2 in 94 minutes, giving Greece a strong start in the team competition.
Illness Hinders Osaka's Season Opener
The former world number one was audibly coughing throughout the contest and later revealed she has been fighting a cold since Christmas. Osaka's serve was particularly affected, with three double faults in her very first service game handing Sakkari an early break. Despite breaking back immediately, Osaka struggled to find consistent rhythm.
"I'm not operating at the per cent that I want to be operating at, which sucks because I had a really good off-season," Osaka admitted post-match. She emphasised, however, that her health issue was not serious and expressed gratitude for the match practice. "I'm just happy to be out here," she said.
Sakkari's Morale-Boosting Return to Form
For Maria Sakkari, the victory marked a powerful and positive start to the new year after what she described as "a season and a half" of tough results that saw her ranking slide outside the top 50. The former world number three focused on executing her pre-season work and capitalising on break points.
"You're always very hesitant when you come into that first match," Sakkari confessed. "I really forced myself not to think like that. I just went out there, tried to do the things that I worked on." Her class was evident in key moments, including a sublime backhand winner to set up a first-set victory.
Looking Ahead to the Australian Open
Despite the loss, Osaka's outlook remains focused on recovery and preparation for the upcoming Australian Open, a tournament she has won four times. She believes she is on the "tail end" of her illness and is working to get better each day.
The Japanese star is scheduled to play another match in the United Cup team format, offering a crucial opportunity to sharpen her game before the first Grand Slam of the year. Both players showed flashes of their top-five pedigree in a match that blended moments of rust with high-quality shot-making.
