Sakkari battles past Zidansek

Sakkari, 26, was kept on court for just over two hours before seeing off Zidansek 6-2, 0-6, 6-4

Sakkari battles past Zidansek

Maria Sakkari

World No.6 Maria Sakkari battled past Slovenia’s Tamara Zidansek in three sets to reach the second round of the Adelaide International on Monday and kick off the new WTA season.

Sakkari, 26, was kept on court for just over two hours before seeing off Zidansek 6-2, 0-6, 6-4. Third seed Sakkari, who broke into the top 10 in November, admitted she had been well below her best as she warms up for the Australian Open later this month.

‘I didn’t feel great’

“I didn’t feel great to be perfectly honest,” she said. “It wasn’t a good match from my side but I found a way through it, which sometimes is enough, and I’m excited to be in the second round.” Australian wildcard Priscilla Hon claimed the biggest win of her career when she beat two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova in three sets.

Kvitova shocked

Hon, the World No. 263, came back from a set and a break down to oust Kvitova 6-7 (4/7), 7-5, 6-2, her first win over a player inside the top 20.

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