Maria Sakkari will close her 2026 season at the WTA 500 tournament in Tokyo, hoping to climb the rankings before the 2027 Australian Open seedings are set.
The Greek player is entered in the event in the Japanese capital, which runs from 26 October to 1 November. It is her last chance to collect ranking points before her winter preparation begins.
Sakkari heads to Japan on the back of a run to the quarterfinals of the Wuhan Open, where she picked up important wins and improved her position in the rankings.
Why Tokyo matters for Maria Sakkari
In the WTA rankings published on 19 October, the 31-year-old was ranked world No. 31 with 1,706 points, just outside the top 30.
Tokyo also matters for Melbourne. Her ranking when the Australian Open draw is made will decide whether she is among the 32 seeded players.
A seeding would mean she cannot meet another seeded player in the first two rounds of the year’s first Grand Slam.
Strong results in Tokyo could make her path through the opening rounds at Melbourne Park noticeably easier.
Her 2026 season has had its highlights on home soil and beyond. In July she reached the final of the Athens Open, losing the title match to Barbora Krejcikova, and at the US Open she staged a comeback win in the opening week.
Final preparations in Dubai
Before the trip, Maria Sakkari has been in Dubai completing her preparation before travelling to Japan.
In a post on Instagram, she wrote “Ready for the last battle”, signalling her focus on the final challenge of her year.
Greek tennis fans in Australia will be watching closely, with Melbourne’s large Greek community traditionally among her loudest supporters at the Australian Open.
Source: Ta Nea
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