Sakkari defeats Fernandez as Greece eliminates Canada at United Cup

SYDNEY, Australia – Maria Sakkari and Stefanos Tsitsipas helped Greece eliminate Canada from the United Cup with a 3-0 victory in group play on Wednesday.

Sakkari saved four set points in the first set and came back from down 3-1 in the second to defeat Leylah Fernandez, of Laval, Que., 7-6 (2), 6-3, and secure a 2-0 lead for Greece, which advanced to the quarterfinals.

In the first match, No. 6-ranked Tsitsipas comfortably beat Toronto’s Steven Diez 6-2, 6-3.

Tsitsipas and Despina Papamichail teamed up to top Montreal’s Felix Auger-Aliassime and Vancouver’s Stacey Fung 7-5, 6-4 in mixed doubles.

Canada opened the tournament with a 2-1 win over Chile on Sunday and would have advanced to the quarters as Group B winners with a victory versus Greece.

The Canadians (2-4) instead finished last in the group, behind Chile (3-3) and Greece (4-2).

The 18-country, mixed-team event in Sydney and Perth doubles as a warm-up for the Australian Open.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 3, 2024.