She thundered 51 winners to Rybakina’s 31 as they traded big blows in a match-up that lived up to the billing. Sabalenka began to correct her grand slam reputation with three semi-finals in her previous five majors before lobbing in Australia this summer, the scene of her extreme serving yips 12 months ago. Not only … Read more
Aryna Sabalenka won the first Grand Slam title of her career as the Belarusian fought back from one set down to defeat Elena Rybakina in a pulsating Australian Open final on Saturday. Appearing a maiden major final, fifth seed Sabalenka found herself behind after an imposing opening from Rybakina saw the reigning Wimbledon champion claim … Read more
CNN — Belarusian-born Aryna Sabalenka defeated Elena Rybakina in three sets to win a thrilling women’s Australian Open final Saturday, becoming the first player competing under a neutral flag to secure a grand slam. Amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, tournament organizer Tennis Australia required Russian and Belarusian players to compete as neutrals. Outplayed in … Read more
Good morning and welcome to coverage of the 2023 Australian Open women’s final from Melbourne. Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina face Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka in what promises to be a showcase of power hitting from the baseline. Rybakina has beaten world No 1 Iga Swiatek, two-time champion Victoria Azarenka and 2017 French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko … Read more
Russia’s Alina Korneeva became the latest junior Grand Slam champion from her homeland with a hard-fought victory over compatriot Mirra Andreeva in the girls’ singles final of the Australian Open on Saturday. Appearing at a first ever Grand Slam junior event of her career, Korneeva ensured that she leaves Melbourne with the title in tow … Read more
On Friday night Djokovic said the activists, some of whom held flags depicting Putin, had “misused” his father and that there was “no intention” to be associated with their demonstration. “It was unfortunate that the misinterpretation of what happened has escalated to such a high level,” Djokovic said after his semi-final win over Tommy Paul. … Read more
Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text size Pat Cummins was one spell into the Australian captaincy when he wondered if his eyes had been too big for his belly. He’d been thrust into the job after Tim Paine’s shock resignation because of a sexting scandal then days later shovelled into the furnace of the … Read more
Then after falling victim to the Tour’s controversial mid-year cut-off, back to the off-Broadway Qualifying Tour. By November, back to the top level for 2023. And then to Pipeline, the world’s true maker of boardriding men and women, where she emerged with a finals triumph over five-time world champ and local expert Carissa Moore, $100,000 … Read more
History beckons once again for Serbian tennis great Novak Djokovic after he emphatically defeated American Tommy Paul on Friday to qualify for yet another Australian Open final. Djokovic will meet Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas in Sunday’s clash in pursuit of what would be a tenth title Down Under, with a win also drawing him level with … Read more
Alcaraz did not make the start line for this year’s tournament after suffering a leg injury in training while recovering from an abdominal setback. “I won that match [against Tsitsipas at the 2021 French Open], so my recollections are very positive,” Djokovic said. Novak Djokovic and Tommy Paul after the match.Credit:Getty Images “I was two-sets-to-love … Read more