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Having unified the flyweight championship, ending his three-year long tetralogy series with Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 283 on January 21, reigning titlist Brandon Moreno has publicly insisted his wish to remain an active champion in 2023: two more fights – one in June and another in November or December – including a title defence vs. former foe Alexandre Pantoja. Continue reading “UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno wants two more fights in 2023 – and Alexandre Pantoja next”
He told everyone that would listen. Yet you had to see to believe: Liam Smith becoming the first man to drop, and stop Chris Eubank Jr with a rather emphatic fourth-round TKO win during their PPV main event on January 21. Talk immediately turned to the latter’s rematch clause, a potential illegal elbow, weight complications and much more besides earlier this month. Continue reading “Rip up the script: Rewind to Liam Smith’s stunning R4 TKO win vs. Chris Eubank Jr, what’s next?”
Novak Djokovic stressed in the build-up he was ready to go the distance, given both entered the finale in formidable form and what was at stake for the winner. Instead, he needed just shy of three hours, increasing his level in two tiebreak sets, beating Stefanos Tsitsipas in this year’s Australian Open final – meaning he’ll return to world no. 1 – after clinching a record-extending tenth Major in Melbourne, moving level with long-time rival Rafael Nadal on 22 overall. Continue reading “AUS OPEN 2023: Djokovic bests Tsitsipas in straight-sets, seals 22nd Major title and back at world no. 1”
For the best part of eight rounds, Anthony Yarde made everyone inside the OVO Arena believe. The unthinkable looked likely at times, especially in R5. Tunde Ajayi saw the writing on the wall though, watching his charge absorb a knockdown in the eighth, and a back-and-forth battle was ended abruptly – Artur Beterbiev retaining his WBO, IBF and WBC light-heavyweight titles. Continue reading “Beterbiev retains unified light-heavyweight titles with R8 stoppage win despite spirited Yarde display”
The achievement must feel long overdue, but Aryna Sabalenka is now a Major singles champion. She needed four championship points to get the job done – but was courageous on serve and crunched 51 winners over two-and-a-half hours, recovering from a set down to overcome Wimbledon titlist Elena Rybakina in three sets during a nailbiting women’s finale. Continue reading “AUS OPEN 2023: Sabalenka rallies from a set down, topples Rybakina and is a first-time Major champion”
Novak Djokovic stuttered early but produced some of his awe-inspiring groundstrokes late on as he booked his place in Sunday’s final after a straight-sets victory over unseeded American Tommy Paul. He’ll face an in-form Stefanos Tsitsipas after the Greek held firm despite a spirited showing by Olympic silver medallist Karen Khachanov in the day’s earlier semifinal. It means the pair – who met in the 2021 Roland Garros final – will do battle for world no. 1 status too. Continue reading “AUS OPEN 2023: Stefanos Tsitsipas vs. Novak Djokovic in Sunday’s final with world no. 1 again on the line”
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 “AUS OPEN 2023: Elena Rybakina vs. Aryna Sabalenka in Saturday’s final, as both hold firm on Day 11”
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 “AUS OPEN 2023: Linette-Sabalenka, Paul-Djokovic semis sealed on straightforward Day 10”
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 “AUS OPEN 2023: Azarenka-Rybakina, Khachanov-Tsitsipas set in semifinals on eventful Day 9”
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 “AUS OPEN 2023: Rublev saves match points vs. Rune, Djokovic dismantles de Minaur and more on Day 8”
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 “AUS OPEN 2023: Swiatek, Gauff beaten in straight-sets, Tsitsipas survives Sinner fightback on Day 7”
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 “UFC 283: Hill batters Teixeira to become new LHW champ, Moreno ends Figueiredo series with stoppage”
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