Maria Sakkari has progressed to the second round of the Athens Open WTA 250 with a straight-sets victory over Polina Kudermetova.
Playing in the tournament for the first time in her career, the Greek world No. 37 defeated the world No. 109 6-0, 7-6 in front of a near-capacity home crowd at the Sports Center indoor arena.
Sakkari dominated the opening set, conceding no games as she raced to a 6-0 lead.
Kudermetova responded in the second set, pushing the 30-year-old Greek and forcing a tiebreak after a closely contested set.
Sakkari lifted her level in the tiebreak, winning it 7-1 to seal the match in one hour and 24 minutes.
The victory sends the former world No. 3 into the second round, where she will face Britain’s Harriet Dart.