Great Britain's United Cup campaign in Perth has begun with a bitter 2-0 defeat to Greece in the round-robin group stage. The loss was sealed by a three-set defeat for Emma Raducanu in her first match of the new season, followed by a narrow loss for Billy Harris.
Raducanu's Fight Fades Against Sakkari
Emma Raducanu fought hard but ultimately succumbed to a 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 defeat against Greece's Maria Sakkari. The match marked the British star's competitive return after an off-season hampered by a foot injury. Team captain Tim Henman had previously expressed uncertainty about her readiness due to the disrupted preparation.
There were positive signs for the 22-year-old, particularly in the second set where she found her rhythm and forced a decider. However, after levelling the match, Raducanu's challenge dissipated in the third set. Sakkari, renowned for her fitness, maintained her intensity to secure her first ever victory over Raducanu at the fifth attempt.
Harris Pushes Tsitsipas in Courageous Display
Earlier, British number five Billy Harris, a late replacement for the injured Jack Draper, delivered a career-best performance against former world number three Stefanos Tsitsipas. The ATP world number 127 took the fight to the Greek, winning the first set and pushing the match to a final-set tie-break.
Harris served superbly and attacked with his forehand, capitalising on a rusty start from Tsitsipas, who is currently ranked 34th. Despite the courageous effort, it was the more experienced Tsitsipas who found his best tennis in the crucial moments of the tie-break to clinch a 4-6, 6-1, 7-6(4) victory.
Elsewhere in Tennis: A Breakthrough Win for Jones
In other news, British player Francesca Jones started her year with a landmark victory at the Auckland Open. The world number 72 secured the biggest win of her career by defeating second seed and world number 15, Emma Navarro, in the first round. This marked Jones's first ever triumph over a player ranked inside the top 40.
The results leave Great Britain with a challenging start to their United Cup campaign in Perth, with focus now turning to their next tie in the group stage.
