Former Top 10 players Sofia Kenin and Maria Sakkari launched their clay-court seasons positively at the WTA 500 Credit One Charleston Open. Both athletes secured straight-set wins in their first matches on Tuesday.
Sakkari initiated the day`s matches at Credit One Stadium, defeating Canadian wild card Marina Stakusic 6-3, 6-2. Following her, Kenin overcame fellow American Bernarda Pera 6-3, 6-4. These victories set up compelling second-round encounters for both players against highly-ranked seeded opponents.
Sakkari Aims for Strong Form in Charleston: Making her fourth appearance at the tournament, Sakkari is seeking momentum as the clay season commences. Last year at this time, Sakkari, seeded third and ranked No. 7, reached the semifinals in Charleston before losing to the eventual champion, Danielle Collins.
Currently ranked No. 64 after a shoulder injury shortened her 2024 season post-US Open and holding a 6-11 match record this season, the Greek player hopes her Charleston return will act as a catalyst for the remainder of 2025. Besides her semifinal run last year, Sakkari also reached the quarterfinals in 2019.
Sakkari demonstrated resilience against 19-year-old Stakusic, recovering from a 3-0, 0-30 deficit at the start of the match. She proceeded to win seven consecutive games, arranging a second-round match against World No. 7 Zheng Qinwen.
`I am very happy that despite being down by two breaks in the first set, I managed to reverse the situation,` Sakkari commented after her match. `After that point, my tennis improved significantly. Playing against strong hitters like her is always challenging. She is a fantastic, young, and upcoming player, and I am thrilled to extend my stay in Charleston.`
Sakkari`s head-to-head record against Zheng is currently unavailable, and she will be competing for her first Top 10 victory in over a year—and her first on clay since defeating reigning champion Iga Swiatek at Roland Garros in 2021.
`It will be a very difficult match, hopefully for both of us,` Sakkari stated. `I am comfortable on clay, and she has been playing excellent tennis… I intend to go out there and enjoy the match.`
Kenin Feels at Home in Charleston: 2020 Australian Open champion Kenin played after Sakkari and secured her first Charleston win since 2023.
Kenin required an extra day to officially advance to the second round. She was leading Pera 4-2 when their match was suspended on Monday night due to rain. Upon resuming, she faced strong resistance from her compatriot, saving a break point in the seventh game and another before serving out the set.
Despite being down 4-0 in the second set, Pera rallied to 4-3 before Kenin ultimately served out the match from 0-30.
Kenin is scheduled to play next against No. 17 seed Belinda Bencic, who became a seeded player following the withdrawal of Magdalena Frech, initially expected to be the No. 13 seed after the draw.
More updates to follow….
