RADUCANU GETS THE SAKK

Emma dumped by Sakkari in Brit defeat

- BY ELEANOR CROOKS

EMMA RADUCANU suffered a first ever loss to Maria Sakkari in a belated season debut for Great Britain at the United Cup.

The 23-year-old was a late withdrawal from Britain's opening match at the mixed team event in Perth against Japan on Sunday because of a foot problem that bothered her throughout preseason.

She was playing her first match since October, after she struggled with illness at the end of last season.

And Raducanu lacked the sharpness and stamina to make it five wins from five against Sakkari, going down 6-3 3-6 6-1 to condemn Britain to defeat against Greece. "I started hitting two weeks ago, so it's been a good two and a bit months where I didn't play," she said.