Stefanos Tsitsipas, a smiling start in 2026 » Greece beat Japan without losing a set at the United Cup

Ashley Davis02/01/2026

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Article by Luminița Paul – Published on Friday, 02 January 2026, 18:52 / Updated on Friday, 02 January 2026 18:55

Greece beat Japan 3-0 in Perth on day one of the United Cup, with Maria Sakkari and Stefanos Tsitsipas winning the singles and mixed doubles together. For the former world number 3, it is the desired start in the new season.

The year 2025 has been full of challenges for Stefanos Tsitsipas, with the Greek struggling with physical problems, fluctuations in form, lack of confidence in sporting and personal terms. For the first matches of 2026, however, the court presented a much more connected and secure version of the double Grand Slam finalist.

Stef entered the fight from an advantageous position, after his compatriot Maria Sakkari he had beaten her 6-4, 6-2 on Naomi Osaka. Against him Shintaro Mochizuki (22 years old, ranked 99th ATP), in their first head-to-head match, the former world number 3 got off to a more difficult start, losing his serve.

However, he recovered quickly and delivered a convincing performance on the course of the match won 6-3, 6-4 in one hour and 23 minutes at the RAC Arena. Then, after a short break, he reappeared in action alongside Sakkari for the mixed doubles clash against the pairs Nao Hibino-Yasutaka Uchiyama. The Greeks won clearly, 6-2, 6-3, imposing themselves with a categorical 3-0, without losing a set, in front of Japan.

Painting lines with @steftsitsipas 🧑 🎨 pic.twitter.com/20DlwqqELP

— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 2, 2026

Stefanos Tsitsipas: “Good tennis, I hope to continue like this”

Stefanos Tsitsipas played his first match since September 2025, managing a back injury. “It's been a tough couple of months for me,” he said shortly after the singles match. “I found myself in an area of great uncertainty and I wasn't sure if I would be able to compete. So I'm grateful to see myself again showing such a level, good tennis. I hope to continue the same“, he added.

Last year, after the surprising defeat in the 2nd round at Roland Garros to the Italian Matteo Gigantethe Greek dropped out of the Top 20 after a steady run among the world's best that began in August 2018.

This week, he is ranked 36th in the ATP rankings and has set himself an audacious goal for 2026: to reach a Grand Slam final – a territory he is not unfamiliar with, playing for the trophy at Roland Garros 2021 and the Australian Open 2023.

Argentina beat Spain 3-0

In the other meeting in Perth, within the United Cup, Argentina beat Spain without right of appeal, 3-0. Sebastian Baez (25 years old, 45th place ATP) prevailed with a double 6-4 in front of him Jaume Munar (28 years old, world number 33).

More animated was the women's dispute, decided by Solana Sierra (21 years old, 66th place WTA) with 6-4, 5-7, 7-0 in front of Jessica Bouzas Maneiro (23 years old, world number 41). In mixed doubles, the pair Maria Lourdes Carle-Guido Andreozzi won 7-6 (6), 6-2 against him Yvonne Cavalle-Reimers and Inigo Cervantes.