United Cup 2026: Great Britain knocked out in 2-1 defeat to Greece

Greece have defeated Great Britain in the United Cup Group E decider after Billy Harris and Emma Raducanu lost out to former top five players Stefanos Tsitsipas and Maria Sakkari in three sets.

The loss means that Great Britain are out of the United Cup 2026.

Harris narrowly missed out on the biggest win of his career, losing out to two-time former Grand Slam runner-up Tsitsipas 5-7, 6-1, 7-6(4) in two hours and 18 minutes.

Then Raducanu showed great fight to come back from a set down against Sakkari but ultimately lost 6-3, 3-6, 6-1.

Olivia Nicholls and Neal Skupski managed to get a point on the board with a 6-2, 3-6, 10-4 win over Despina Papamichail and Stefanos Sakellaridis in the final mixed doubles rubber.

Harris takes the challenge to Tsitsipas

Harris got off to a lightning start, connecting on a forehand return winner to break the Greek in the opening game of the match. The world No.127 stayed on top throughout the opening set, dropping just five points on serve and capitalising on a flurry of errors from the Tsitsipas backhand.

Tsitsipas settled into the second set quickly and got back on track by winning the first five consecutive games.

In a tight third set, Harris held strong to see off two break points at 4-4 and had a 0-30 opportunity on the Tsitsipas serve at 6-5 before they went on to the tie-break.

The Greek is a solid front runner in tie-breaks and once he took a 3-0 lead, Harris was unable to overturn the deficit despite his best efforts. Tsitsipas closed out the win with a big first serve on his second match point to give Greece the advantage.

“I would like to congratulate Billy,” Tsitsipas said. “He put out an incredible performance. I haven’t played such a high quality match in a long time. He did great pushing me to my limits. Matches like that, regardless who wins and loses, are great for the sport.”

Raducanu United Cup debut ends in defeat

Sakkari confirmed Greece’s place in the quarter-finals with her first win in five meetings against Raducanu.

The Greek’s forehand dealt the damage in the first set to overturn the early break, but it was a laser backhand winner that saw the former world No.3 seal a second break for a 5-3 lead.

Raducanu saw three break back opportunities come and go before Sakkari managed to clinch her first set against the Brit.

After a discussion with new coach Francisco Roig, Raducanu flipped the script in the second set, reverting away from the high balls she’d been playing early on.

The strategy paid off. Raducanu fought back from a break and 2-1 down, and then saved three break points of her own at 3-3 to win a grueling second set in an hour and four minutes.

Raducanu wasn’t ready to face Naomi Osaka in yesterday's tie with Japan and the efforts in the second set seemed to take their toll. The Briton sailed a forehand long to give Sakkari a 3-1 lead and then a double break for the Greek all but wrapped up an impressive win.

Nicholls & Skupski clinch a point for GB

Nicholls and Skupski won their second match tie-break in as many days, as their quality and experience came through in the decisive moments against Papamichail and Sakellaridis.

The Brits eased to through the first set, winning 85% (11/13) points on first serve but went down an early break in the second.

A video replay of Sakellardis potentially reaching over the net in a crucial game at 4-2 was deemed inconclusive as GB went on to miss a break point on deciding deuce.

Into the match tie-break and the Brits won eight of the final nine points, with Skupski sealing their first match point after an hour and 22 minutes.

“It was great to get a win on the board for GB,” Nicholls said. “We have to mention Billy and Emma for their efforts today, it was incredible to be courtside for Billy’s performance, I think he can take so much from that. Emma as well has played barely any points so to come out like she did and play against Sakkari who is in good form."

Skupski added: “It was a good win for us tonight. I’ve loved representing Great Britain over the last few days, shame we can’t go through to the next round but good luck to everyone for the rest of the year.”