Maria Sakkari and Stefanos Tsitsipas helped Greece eliminate Canada from the United Cup with a 3-0 triumph in group play on Wednesday in Perth, Australia.
Sakkari saved four set points in the first set and came back from down 3-1 in the second to defeat Leylah Fernandez of Laval, Que., 7-6 (2), 6-3, and secure a 2-0 lead for Greece, which advanced to the quarterfinals.
In the first match, No. 6-ranked Tsitsipas comfortably defeated Toronto’s Steven Diez 6-2, 6-3.
Tsitsipas’s brother, Petros, and Despina Papamichail teamed to top Montreal’s Felix Auger-Aliassime and Vancouver’s Stacey Fung 7-5, 6-4 in mixed doubles.
Canada opened the tournament with a 2-1 victory over Chile on Sunday and would have advanced to the quarters as Group B winners with a victory versus Greece.
The Canadians (2-4) instead concluded last in the group, behind Chile (3-3) and Greece (4-2).
The 18-country, mixed-team event in Sydney and Perth doubles as a warm-up for the Australian Open.
Serbia falls to host Aussies
Novak Djokovic continued to struggle with his wrist injury as Australia stunned Serbia with a 3-0 win in the quarterfinals.
Djokovic, who has had a problem with his right wrist during the tournament, found a way past Jiri Lehecka in Serbia’s previous Group E match against the Czech Republic.
However, the world No. 1 struggled against Alex de Minaur as the Australian used a superb defence and a dominant serve to win 6-4, 6-4.
“When you go up against Novak you have to go out and enjoy it and back yourself, and no matter what keep fighting until the end,” de Minaur said. “Today was my day and I’m happy that I was able to get the win.”
Djokovic was clearly in discomfort against world No. 12 De Minaur and was twice treated by the physio during the first set.
Djokovic said he was not concerned about the injury.
“I have enough time to get myself in the right shape for the Australian Open, and that’s what matters the most at this point,” he said. “I think I’ll be OK, to be honest. I knew that I probably wasn’t going to be at my 100 per cent physically, emotionally, mentally, game-wise in the opening week of a season.”
The Australian Open starts in Melbourne on Jan. 14.
It was Djokovic’s first defeat in Australia since he lost his quarterfinal at the Australian Open in 2018.
