Maria Sakkari Cites Roger Federer and Carlos Alcaraz to Praise Her Stunning Squash Shot at Australian Open: “One of the Best”
Carlos Alcaraz, who is aiming for the Career Grand Slam, will lock horns with Adam Walton in the first round of the Australian Open.
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Maria Sakkari (middle) placed herself in the same bracket as Roger Federer (left) and Carlos Alcaraz (right) (Image via X/Laureus, The Tennis Letter, Tennis Channel, Carlos Alcaraz 4K)
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Maria Sakkari kick-started her campaign at the 2026 Australian Open in a strong fashion, defeating Frenchwoman Leolia Jeanjean 6-4, 6-2 on Sunday (January 18). At one point during the match, the Greek ace smashed an impressive squash shot and later jokingly compared it to Roger Federer and Carlos Alcaraz‘s returns.
When Jeanjean served, Sakkari had to stretch her arm to pull off a stunning forehand winner from behind the baseline to return it. During the on-court interview, the 30-year-old joked that she was convinced it would be one of the best shots of the tournament.
I’ve never hit it in my life…like I’m 30 years old now, I’ve been playing tennis for 25 years. I could never imagine I can actually hit that kind of return. You see, when Roger hits it, Carlos, and then myself, I’m like, ‘Ah’. I’m pretty sure it’s gonna make probably one of the best shots of the tournament.
Maria Sakkari said
Sakkari, a two-time Grand Slam semi-finalist, will be aiming to make the Australian Open quarterfinals for the first time. She has reached the fourth round twice (in 2020 and 2022). Last year, her run at Melbourne Park ended in the first round, with a three-set defeat at the hands of Camila Osorio.
Maria Sakkari says the shot she hit is going to be 1 of the best of the tournament at Australian Open
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) January 18, 2026
"I've been playing for 25 years. I could never imagine I can hit that kind of return. You see when Roger hits it, Carlos, & then myself. I'm like 'Ah’”😭pic.twitter.com/38bSwQpNvq
Sakkari couldn’t progress to the fourth round in any of the four Majors in the 2025 season. She suffered a first-round exit at the French Open and a second-round exit at Wimbledon. At the US Open, the 2023 Guadalajara Open champion lost in the third round.
Sakkari has yet to win a tournament since winning her career’s best Big Title in Guadalajara. Since that win, she has made just one final- at the 2024 Indian Wells, losing to six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek.
Roger Federer on whether Joao Fonseca can join Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner to make another Big 3
Joao Fonseca lived up to the expectations of the tennis world last year. After bursting onto the scene following his 2024 Next-Gen ATP Finals win, Fonseca made huge strides in his career by clinching the ATP 250 Argentina Open and the ATP 500 Swiss Indoors.
Many have backed him to join Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner to make another Big 3. But Roger Federer, who played in an exhibition on the eve of the Australian Open main draw, thinks Fonseca, instead of focusing on being the ‘third guy,’ should work to be the best.
You don’t want to be the third guy. You want to be the guy. For anybody… I would think, hopefully, that’s what he’s thinking. Of course, you don’t want to get carried away and think too far ahead. Like in our time, when people say, I’m going to try to win the Australian Open. There are all the other legends in the room. Sometimes I think the media didn’t allow them to speak up. I think anybody from the draw could come here and say, I want to win the Australian Open. It should be totally the same for Joao.
Roger Federer said at the press conference
Fonseca made his Major main draw debut at the Australian Open last year and went on to feature in the main draw of the remaining three Grand Slam events. He reached his career-best No.24 ranking, but at present, he stands in the 30th spot.
I just think he’s more a little bit like me in the sense he needs a little bit more time to work on his game. Similar to Jannik, as well, to know when to dial back and when to unload his shots. Once he figures that out, obviously, the sky’s the limit.
Roger Federer added
Fonseca, the 28th seed, will meet Eliot Spizzirri in the first round. Alcaraz and Sinner will clash with Adam Walton and Hugo Gaston, respectively, in the first round.
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