Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina will contest her second Major final in seven months when she battles first-time finalist Aryna Sabalenka on Saturday. Regardless of who wins, there will be a first-time Australian Open titlist – after they both upped their level in first set tiebreaks before ousting two-time champ Victoria Azarenka and Magda Linette respectively on Day 11. Continue reading
Magda Linette’s Major run continues after she downed an errant Karolina Pliskova, with Aryna Sabalenka to come in the second of Thursday’s semi-finals as the fifth seed was a convincing winner against Donna Vekic. Afterwards, experience proved key for Tommy Paul as he ousted young compatriot Ben Shelton in a battle of two first-time quarterfinalists, setting up a Friday fight against nine-time champion Novak Djokovic after making quick work of Andrey Rublev. Continue reading
Victoria Azarenka started well and didn’t let up, as she ended Jessica Pegula’s eight-match winning streak – to punch her ticket into a ninth Major semi-final. She’ll face reigning Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina on Thursday, who dropped just one more game against Jelena Ostapenko. Elsewhere, Karen Khachanov will target a first competitive H2H win over Stefanos Tsitsipas after their contrasting wins over Sebastian Korda and Jiri Lehecka on Day 9. Continue reading
Andrey Rublev twice recovered from the brink to avenge his Paris Masters defeat by Holger Rune in a deciding set tiebreak, earning another Major quarter-final berth in the process. He’ll face the tournament’s nine-time champion Novak Djokovic on Wednesday, after the Serb was supreme as he purred to victory against Australia’s remaining hope Alex de Minaur. Elsewhere, Aryna Sabalenka and Magda Linette were big winners and more on an early-ending Day 8. Continue reading
Neither played badly, but both were second best on the biggest points as world no. 1 Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff suffered straight-sets defeats against a pair of Grand Slam champions in Elena Rybakina and Jelena Ostapenko on a busy Day 7 at this year’s Major. Elsewhere, Jiri Lehecka’s giantkilling run continued and he’ll face an in-form Stefanos Tsitsipas on Tuesday. Continue reading
Jamahal Hill became the first Dana White’s Contender Series graduate to earn UFC gold after a dominant, exhausting five-round decision win over former champion Glover Teixeira, who announced his retirement post-fight. Elsewhere, Brandon Moreno ended his Deiveson Figueiredo series with a third-round TKO before his rival confirmed he’ll be moving up to bantamweight – while there were emphatic victories for Gilbert Burns and Jessica Andrade. Continue reading
Today’s results mean there could be as many as five more first-time quarterfinalists in this year’s Australian Open, including teenage duo Holger Rune and Linda Fruhvirtova. Rune will face Andrey Rublev after the Russian was on form vs. Dan Evans, while the 17-year-old ousted compatriot Marketa Vondrousova with Donna Vekic next. Elsewhere, Grigor Dimitrov made Novak Djokovic sweat before Roberto Bautista Agut ended Andy Murray’s memorable run. Continue reading
Adelaide 1 finalist and 29th seed Sebastian Korda produced some brilliant ball-striking as he stunned two-time finalist Daniil Medvedev in straight-sets to steal the show on an eventful Day 5 at this year’s Australian Open, with Jiri Lehecka a big winner after some tasty fourth-round ties on the women’s side were confirmed, including Swiatek-Rybakina and Pegula-Krejcikova. Continue reading
Ahead of her main card matchup against former strawweight champion Jessica Andrade this weekend in Brazil, former title challenger Lauren Murphy spoke about Taila Santos’ split decision defeat by reigning titlist Valentina Shevchenko – whose last display reinforces the belief she’s not untouchable after finding herself in danger against the Brazilian last summer. Continue reading
Casper Ruud’s four-set loss to Jenson Brooksby – on a brilliant Day 4 for American players not named Taylor Fritz – marks the first time a Grand Slam’s top two seeds have been knocked out before round three since this very tournament 21 years ago. Elsewhere, Aryna Sabalenka faces her Major-winning doubles teammate in the next round, Daniel Evans will meet a familiar foe while Andy Murray surpassed his Matteo Berrettini scalp after the longest match of his career.
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Reigning Australian Open champion Rafael Nadal was soundly beaten by 27-year-old American Mackenzie McDonald, a straight-sets defeat compounded after straining his left hip flexor deep in set two and severely struggled with subsequent movement. Iga Swiatek and Maria Sakkari had contrasting wins, Felix Auger-Aliassime recovered from two sets down to beat Alex Molcan while Auckland titlist Coco Gauff won a rocky battle against Emma Raducanu elsewhere. Continue reading
Andy Murray ended a near five-year long wait to down a top-20 player in a Major, saving a match point en route to outlasting last year’s semifinalist Matteo Berrettini. Elsewhere, Alexander Zverev and Ons Jabeur both survived some uncomfortable situations while volatile weather – from extreme heat to heavy rain – limited play elsewhere during a disrupted Day 2. Continue reading
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