Andreeva Continues Strong Form in Melbourne
There’s a common belief in tennis that facing tough opponents early in a major tournament can steel a player for a long journey through the bracket. This might just be the reality for Mirra Andreeva in Australian open 2026, Andreeva Defeats Sakkari in Melbourne as she secured her eighth victory of the season on Wednesday night.
Following a challenging first round where she rallied from a set down to defeat the veteran Donna Vekic, the eighth seed brought fierce focus to a fluctuating match against former world No. 3 Maria Sakkari.
The 18-year-old stormed through the first eight games before elevating her intensity during a closer second set, ultimately dismissing Maria Sakkari 6-0, 6-4 in just over an hour at Margaret Court Arena.
Throughout the contest, Andreeva proved superior in every aspect. Her baseline consistency, potent serving, higher winner count, and poise under pressure allowed the teenager to advance to the third round for the third consecutive time at Melbourne Park.
Next up, she faces Romania’s Elena-Gabriela Ruse, who eliminated Australian Ajla Tomljanovic earlier on Day 4.
No Time to Ease In
“When I saw the draw I was like, ‘Wow, it’s not the easiest draw you can have.’ I think it helps to be 100 per cent since the first match that you’re playing,” acknowledged Andreeva, fresh off claiming her fourth title in Adelaide just last weekend.
“Sometimes you want some time to get into the tournament, but here I didn’t really have that time, I needed to start 100 per cent right away and I guess the tough draw is for helping this.
“Having a great week of playing before a Grand Slam helps a lot, it gives a lot of confidence. I was feeling great on the court. For sure the conditions here are a little bit different – it’s more windy and we don’t have the roof.
“It helps to get into the match rhythm. You know opponents are going to be tough from the first match. I know the statistic that winners of Adelaide do not do bad here but I’m not going to think about it – we’ll see if that statistic works for me.”
Weathering the Storm
Initially, the match was smooth sailing for Andreeva, largely because Sakkari struggled to find her footing until midway through the second set.
The youngest player in the top 10 settled quickly, while Sakkari committed 10 unforced errors in the first 15 minutes alone. Even on her own serve, the Greek star couldn’t establish a rhythm, winning only two of 13 first-serve points as she absorbed a 6-0 ‘bagel’ in just 26 minutes.
The passionate Greek fans in the arena must have questioned if Sakkari would get on the board as Andreeva surged to a 6-0, 2-0 lead. Suddenly, however, the world No. 53 sparked to life.
Forced to take risks and play aggressively, Sakkari’s bold strategy began to pay dividends. She held serve after 40 minutes, broke to love, and held again to take a surprising 3-2 lead.
It was then Andreeva’s turn to dig deep as Sakkari built momentum and the crowd grew louder.
The former Roland Garros semifinalist celebrated key points with increasing volume, but when the pressure peaked, Andreeva’s recent winning streak seemed to provide the mental edge needed to stay the course.
Serving at 4-4, Sakkari faltered. Two missed groundstrokes cost her the game, allowing Andreeva to hold her nerve in a tense final game and serve out the match for her sixth straight win of 2026.
Saurabh is a passionate tennis content writer and lifelong fan of the game. Whether it’s Grand Slam showdowns or under-the-radar rising stars, Saurabh brings the court to life with sharp analysis, breaking news, and deep-dive features. When they aren’t covering matches, you can find them practicing their topspin forehand or debating who is the GOAT over coffee. Do you enjoy tennis? Then you are in the right place.
