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Naomi Osaka focusing on having fun, admits overly caring about results and rankings

Naomi Osaka of Japan hits a forehand against Alize Cornet of France during the Melbourne Summer Set at Melbourne Park on January 04, 2022 in...

After beating France’s Alize Cornet in her first match of the new year earlier today, Australian Open defending champion Naomi Osaka spoke about her desire to focus on her mental health this upcoming season – while revealing she cared too much about results and rankings. Continue reading “Naomi Osaka focusing on having fun, admits overly caring about results and rankings”

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Rafael Nadal update: Spaniard returns from foot injury in Abu Dhabi exhibition

Spain's Rafael Nadal reacts during his semi-final match against Britain's Andy Murray in the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in the Gulf emirate...

Despite losing 6-3, 7-5 against familiar foe Andy Murray during his return from a troublesome foot injury, the 20-time Grand Slam titlist revealed he was happy with his own performance on memorable soil before what promises to be an intriguing 2022 campaign for both champions. Continue reading “Rafael Nadal update: Spaniard returns from foot injury in Abu Dhabi exhibition”

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Match rewind: Naomi Osaka’s remarkable Aus Open recovery win vs. Garbine Muguruza

Japan's Naomi Osaka takes rest between the games as her opponent Spain's Garbine Muguruza walks back to her seat during their women's singles match...

With the first round of matches at this year’s final Grand Slam starting from Flushing Meadows today, a look back at a memorable matchup from the first: Naomi Osaka saving two match points against Garbine Muguruza during their enthralling fourth-round encounter. She went on to win her fourth Major, and second in Australia, after an eventful fortnight seven months ago.
Continue reading “Match rewind: Naomi Osaka’s remarkable Aus Open recovery win vs. Garbine Muguruza”

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Australian Open 2021: Djokovic defiantly breaks Medvedev’s spirit, retains his crown again

Novak Djokovic of Serbia kisses the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup as he celebrates victory in his Men’s Singles Final match against Daniil Medvedev of...

The pressure and weight of expectation was on his shoulders, but world number one Novak Djokovic relished the challenge as his big-match experience showed. He made quick work of an in-form Daniil Medvedev to reign supreme again in Melbourne, lifting a ninth Australian Open title after a 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 victory, ending the Russian’s 20-match winning streak with aplomb. Continue reading “Australian Open 2021: Djokovic defiantly breaks Medvedev’s spirit, retains his crown again”

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Australian Open 2021: Naomi Osaka beats Jennifer Brady, wins fourth Grand Slam title

Naomi Osaka of Japan poses with the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup after winning her Women’s Singles Final match against Jennifer Brady of the United...

Naomi Osaka (#3) clinched her fourth Grand Slam title and second Australian Open triumph with a 6-4, 6-3 win against first-time finalist Jennifer Brady (#22), while extending her win streak to 21 straight. As a result, she becomes the first female to win four singles titles since Maria Sharapova in 2012, and youngest to do so since Monica Seles won the Australian Open in 1992.
Continue reading “Australian Open 2021: Naomi Osaka beats Jennifer Brady, wins fourth Grand Slam title”

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Australian Open 2021: Medvedev ruthlessly crushes Tsitsipas, into second Slam final

Russia's Daniil Medvedev reacts as he plays against Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas during their men's singles semi-final match on day twelve of the...

Daniil Medvedev (#4) produced some exquisite shot-making and was relentless to subdue a partisan crowd at the Rod Laver Arena, surviving a late third set wobble to win 6-2, 6-4, 7-5 against Stefanos Tsitsipas (#5) – booking his place in Sunday’s final against defending champion Novak Djokovic, extending his win streak to 20 tour matches in just over two hours.
Continue reading “Australian Open 2021: Medvedev ruthlessly crushes Tsitsipas, into second Slam final”

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Australian Open 2021: Djokovic ends Karatsev’s remarkable run in straight sets

Novak Djokovic of Serbia waves to the crowd following victory in his Men’s Singles Semifinals match against Aslan Karatsev of Russia during day 11 of...

World no. 1 Novak Djokovic produced his best performance of this year’s tournament so far to knock out fearless qualifer Aslan Karatsev 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 in just under two hours – booking a ninth Australian Open Final, where he’ll play either an in-form Daniil Medvedev (#4) or Rafael Nadal’s conqueror Stefanos Tsitsipas (#5) on Sunday as he looks to again retain his title in Melbourne.
Continue reading “Australian Open 2021: Djokovic ends Karatsev’s remarkable run in straight sets”

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Australian Open 2021: Naomi Osaka beats Serena Williams, earns another Final berth

Naomi Osaka of Japan celebrates a point in her Women’s Singles Semifinals match against Serena Williams of the United States during day 11 of the...

Naomi Osaka (#3) recovered from a sluggish start, down an early break and needing to save points to avoid a 3-0 deficit, to beat Serena Williams 6-3, 6-4 in an hour 15 minutes as fans returned, watching in awe as the 23-year-old once again put her idol’s aspirations for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title on ice – booking another Final appearance this weekend. Continue reading “Australian Open 2021: Naomi Osaka beats Serena Williams, earns another Final berth”

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Australian Open 2021: Barty knocked out, Tsitsipas’ resiliency helps him topple Nadal

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World number one Ashleigh Barty was stunned in three sets against Karolina Muchova (#25), second seed Rafael Nadal relinquished a two-set advantage as Stefanos Tsitsipas (#5) ended his tournament after a gruelling four-hour battle, while there were big wins for Daniil Medvedev (#4) and Jennifer Brady (#22) elsewhere on another unpredictable day of tennis in Melbourne. 

Continue reading “Australian Open 2021: Barty knocked out, Tsitsipas’ resiliency helps him topple Nadal”

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Australian Open 2021: Injuries, retirements overshadow Day 8 as more quarter-finals set

Norway's Casper Ruud speaks to a trainer during his men's singles match against Russia's Andrey Rublev on day eight of the Australian Open tennis...

Casper Ruud was forced to retire midway through his first fourth-round match at a Grand Slam, no. 9 seed Matteo Berrettini didn’t take to court against Stefanos Tsitsipas (#5) with a worsening abdominal strain while Karolina Muchova (#25) recovered from 5-2 down in the first set to stun Belgium’s Elise Mertens – but also has a pre-existing ab injury and was wincing mid-match.
Continue reading “Australian Open 2021: Injuries, retirements overshadow Day 8 as more quarter-finals set”

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Australian Open 2021: Comebacks aplenty as Osaka, Halep and Karatsev all recover

Simona Halep of Romania celebrates winning set point in her Women's Singles fourth round match against Iga Swiatek of Poland during day seven of the...

Naomi Osaka (#3) saved two match points, world no. 2 Simona Halep set up an exciting quarter-final clash vs. Serena Williams after both earned gritty three-set wins over Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka respectively. Elsewhere, Aslan Karatsev’s historic run continued against all odds while Novak Djokovic continued his unbeaten H2H streak at Milos Raonic’s expense.
Continue reading “Australian Open 2021: Comebacks aplenty as Osaka, Halep and Karatsev all recover”

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Australian Open 2021: Tsitsipas and Rublev cruise, Barty and Nadal navigate tricky wins

Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates during his match against Cameron Norrie of Great Britain during day six of the 2021 Australian Open at Melbourne...

There were routine victories for Stefanos Tsitsipas and Andrey Rublev, Matteo Berrettini had an injury scare but managed to outlast Karen Khachanov in three tight sets. That was before Rafael Nadal and world number one Ashleigh Barty found ways to grit past tricky challenges in the night session, booking their respective places into the second week in Melbourne. Continue reading “Australian Open 2021: Tsitsipas and Rublev cruise, Barty and Nadal navigate tricky wins”