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The Australian Open

All smiles Sabalenka could miss Wimbledon

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Newly-crowned Australian Open Ladies singles champion Aryna Sabalenka could miss Wimbledon again this year with officials in London likely to continue their ban on all Russian and Belaurusian players in the wake of the ongoing war in Ukraine.

With pro- Russian supporters causing mayhem in Melbourne last week singing pro-Mosocs songs and flying banned Russian flags, Wimbledon officials will be keen to avoid similar scenes in June.

Aryna Sabalenka on a gondola at the Royal Botanical Gardens with the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Trophy. Photo AP

Already Sabalenka’s win of Russian, come part-time Kazakh Elena Rybakina, has given valuable PR to Vladimir Putin’s illegal war.

Australian officials were concerned on Sunday those same unruly fans could purchase ground passes for as little as $29 and access the same areas as they did in Wednesday during Novak Djokovic’s quarter final win in the men’s singles.

Sabaklenka tries too brush aside concerns over her eligibility for Wimbledon saying she was “right now on an other planet” after her triumph.

“I still feel like I’m trying to understand what’s just happened,” Sabalenka said parading the trophy.

“It’s the best morning of my life. It’s so beautiful.”

Sabalenka’s name was quickly engraved on the trophy before the presentation immediately after the match, but her country of origin, Belarus, was conspicuously absent.

Belarus is currently not recognised by the WTA or the ITF because it supports Russia and Sabalenka, along with other Russian and Belarusian players have to play as ‘neutrals’

ATP

Solid Sinner soars into Wimbledon final

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Jannik Sinner buried the Wimbledon dream of Novak Djokovic on Friday with a 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 win to reach a second straight final at the grasscourt classic.

The defending champion and world No. 1 never let his 39-year-old opponent – a seven-time champion here – into their semi-final , winning in two hours, 20 minutes..

It took nearly two hours for an impeccable Sinner to face a break point leading two sets and a break

The Italian calmly saved with his 11th ace and secured a 3-1 lead with another untouchable serve.

Leading 5-4, Sinner set up three match points with his 16th ace and took victory as Djokovic reached for a high ball off a drop shot return but sent it wide to lose.

Sinner will now take a dominating record into the Sunday final against Alexander Zverev, who booked his second consecutive Grand Slam final after winning Roland Garros last month.

The German second seed defeated Briton Arthur Fery 7-6 (0), 6-2, 6-4. 

The Championships Wimbledon 2026 “Cross Channel Ferry” Arthur Fery (GBR) sunk by Alexander Zverev (GER) in men’s Semi Final Photo:- Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd

But he will need to reverse a negative trend against Sinner, who has won their last nine meetings and has ot lost a set in their last six.

Sinner will be competing in his seventh Grand Slam final and first at Wimbledon.

“It’s amazing,” the 24-year-old Italian winner said of his defeat of Djokovic. “It means a lot to play one more final here.

“It’s amazing what Novak is still showing (on court). He’s an inspiration,” he said of the rival who defeated him in January’s Australian Open semis.

Sinner credited his team’s preparation for helping him to the straight-sets victory.

“We tried to make some adjustments. I stayed aggressive and serve well, which helped me. against the best returner in the game.

“I’m very hapy with today’s performance. I’m happy to be back in the final.”

Sinner becomes the first Italian player to reach multiple Wimbledon singles finals.

“It was a good old blowout,” Djokovic said of his loss. “I was not sharp enough, not balanced enough; there was not much I could do on the court.

“He was the much better player and the dominant force. You have to hand it to him and say ‘well done.'”

Main photo:-Jannik Sinner eases to three set victory over Novak Djokovic – by Roger Parker/ ISF Ltd

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The Australian Open

Fashion-forward Osaka will tone it down at RG

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Tennis style icon Naomi Osaka has no plans to try for one-upmanship in the informal fashion stakes at Roland Garros.

The former world No. 1 from Japan has sometimes made more news with her style choices than her racquet, especially after taking time off several seasons ago to have a child.

But Osaka has run against the traditional tennis grain with some of her outfits, which included an exo-skeleton ensemble at January’s Australian Open, where she walked onto court for her opening match wearing a large hat, veil, and carrying a parasol combination and wearing a pair of pleated pants..

The clothing was discarded before the start revealing a tennis dress, with the quirky player explaining the get-up was inspired by “the jellyfish, then butterflies, which ties back to the butterfly moment I had here a long time ago, in 2021,” 

The world No. 16 also put on a fashion show at the spring Met Gala in New York, sporting a wedding dress-style garment combined with another huge hat..

For Osaka, it’s just another day in the office, but she said nothing special is planned when Roland Garros kicks of on Sunday in Paris.

“I don’t talk a lot, so that way I can talk through my clothes,” she said on Saturday prior to the start of the year’s second major.

“That means I can be as loud with colors or patterns or
fabric as I want.

“I think that’s the fun part.. I feel we lost that a little in tennis. I grew up with, you know, Serena’s and Venus’s (Williams) grand reveals (included beaded hair and catsuits on court).

“I know there are some kids or some people who are  similar to me that hopefully feel that same way about my outfits. 

“But, yeah, I am a little dramatic when it comes to my fashion sense.”

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ATP

Kyrgios due to resurface on German grass

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Nick Kyrgios is being touted for a return to tennis after playing just one singles match all season, with the controversial Australian due in the lineups for Stuttgart and Halle in June.

The 2022 Wimbledon finalist who turns 31 in a week, has been added to the entry lists for the pair of run-up events prior to the grass-court major which starts on June 29.

Kyrgios, who has missed months on end due to injury and motivational worries, has played just one Grand Slam match since 2022, losing in the Australian Open first round in 2025.

His lone outing this season was an ATP defeat in Brisbane on January 6.

Nevertheless, the acquired taste is feted as a crowd-puller and will have German organisers on alert as to his eventual availability.

“Nick Kyrgios has been one of the most ‌dazzling ⁠personalities in world tennis for years,” Halle tournament organisers said in a statement.

“The Australian is known for his exceptional playing style, characterised by one of the best serves on the tour, ⁠spectacular winners, and great creativity.

“At the same time, his emotional personality and charisma attract considerable attention far beyond the sport.”

Stuttgart start the day after the Roland Garros final while Halle follows a week later in northern Germany from June 13-21.

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