Chile's Nicolas Jarry forced the United Cup clash against Greece into a nail-biting decider after grinding out a 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 victory over a spirited Stefanos Sakellaridis in a marathon encounter lasting two hours and 22 minutes.
The unexpected twist arose when World No. 416 Sakellaridis stepped in for the ailing World No. 6 Stefanos Tsitsipas, turning the tie on its head.
"It was a battle royale, incredibly tough," Jarry confessed after the match. "Stefanos brought his A-game, fighting for every point. He's a tenacious opponent, and I'm thrilled to emerge mentally strong tonight. This tournament brings out the best in everyone, with the electrifying atmosphere raising the bar. Beating anyone is monumental, so I'm ecstatic with this win."
For Sakellaridis, despite the defeat, the match marked a career highlight. Having tasted United Cup action last year with a 1-2 record, including a win over Zizou Bergs, the 19-year-old Greek delivered the performance of his life against Jarry, ranked 19th in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings.
Playing with unwavering courage in a packed Ken Rosewall Arena, Sakellaridis fended off a staggering 10 of the 12 break points he faced. His fighting spirit ignited the Greek supporters and his own team, with Apostolos Tsitsipas, father of Stefanos and the playing captain, leading the cheers.
Now, in the doubles, it is expected that Fillol's grandson, along with Daniela Seguel, will face Tsitsipas and Maria Sakkari in the match that will determine the outcome of the confrontation.
Sakellaridis has a career-high ATP singles ranking of 459 as of July 7, 2023. He also has a career-high ATP doubles ranking of 445, achieved on 6 June 2023.
