Greek tennis player Despina Papamichail (world No. 157) delivered a strong and composed performance in the first round of the Australian Open qualifying draw, defeating American Sachia Vickery (No. 560) 6–3, 7–5 in Melbourne.
The 32-year-old Greek took charge early in the opening set, securing an early break to lead 2–0 and extending her advantage to 4–2 before closing it out with another break in the ninth game. Her steady play and mental toughness dominated the first set.
The second set was far more intense, as the 30-year-old Vickery — a former world No. 73 — fought back fiercely. She saved a pair of match points on her serve in the 10th game and rallied from 4–5, 15–40 to force a 5–5 deadlock.
Undeterred, Papamichail regained momentum, reeling off the next eight points to reach triple match point at 0–40 on Vickery's serve. Although the American saved one, Papamichail sealed the victory with a precise down-the-line winner, clinching a hard-fought straight-sets triumph after 1 hour and 35 minutes.
This victory propels Papamichail into the second round of Australian Open qualifying for the second time in her career (previously in 2023). It marks her fourth appearance in the Melbourne qualifiers overall and her first since 2023.
Next up, she faces a tough challenge against Yuliia Starodubtseva (Ukraine), the sixth seed in qualifying and world No. 111. Papamichail will need three consecutive wins to break into the main draw — a milestone that would secure her first-ever Grand Slam main draw appearance.
Stay tuned for updates on her campaign! 🇬🇷🎾
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