Emma Raducanu suffers defeat to Maria Sakkari in United Cup as British No 1 returns to court after two months out

Emma Raducanu admitted it felt “alien” to step back onto the court after more than two months away from competitive tennis.

The British No 1 opened her 2026 season with a tough 4-6, 6-3, 1-6 loss to Greece’s Maria Sakkari in the United Cup, highlighting just how challenging the return has been.

Early Withdrawal Raises Fitness Questions

Raducanu had initially withdrawn from her first scheduled match of the year against Naomi Osaka on Sunday, citing a lingering foot issue that troubled her at the end of last season.

Team captain Tim Henman said it had been a very close call whether she would play, but her cautious approach has sparked questions about her readiness for the Australian Open, which is fast approaching.

Finding Confidence Despite the Loss

Despite the defeat, Raducanu said she felt proud of how she performed under the circumstances.

Having returned to hitting only two weeks ago, she acknowledged that she still has work to do to get back to her top form.

“It’s been a good two and a bit months where I didn’t play,” she said.

“It’s been difficult to increase the load and add the unpredictability of tennis.

Today, being able to produce that performance, having not played, is just giving me confidence to do what I can do when I practice more.

I know now I need to get my head down and keep working.”

A Familiar Opponent Poses a Challenge

Sakkari has long been what tennis players call Raducanu’s “pigeon,” a rival she has repeatedly beaten in previous encounters, including on the way to her historic 2021 US Open win.

But this time, the Greek No 1, now ranked 51st in the world, proved a tough opponent.

Sakkari took the first set with consistency and grit, forcing Raducanu to respond in the second.

The Briton found her rhythm in the middle set, reminding herself of past victories against the 30-year-old.

However, in the third set, Raducanu struggled after losing her serve at 2-1, with Sakkari dominating the next five games to close out the match in commanding fashion.

United Cup Exit and Next Steps

Raducanu’s loss means Great Britain has now been eliminated from the United Cup.

The focus will now shift to the Hobart International, where she is expected to play her final warm-up event before the Australian Open.

Earlier in the day, Billy Harris, who replaced British No 1 Jack Draper after his withdrawal, also faced a tough outing, losing 6-4, 1-6, 6-7(4) to Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Looking Ahead

While it wasn’t the start Raducanu had hoped for, the British star emphasized the positives of getting match play under her belt.

The coming weeks will be crucial as she regains confidence, sharpens her game, and prepares for the first Grand Slam of the year.