The Australian Open
AO 2024 Women’s Day 12
Aryna Sabalenka returned to the Australian Open on Thursday as she avenged a Grand Slam finals loss to Coco Gauff, defeating the teenager 7-6 (2), 6-4 to reach a second straight final in Melbourne.
The second seed lost the US Open final to Florida’s Gauff four months ago, with the crowd totally on the side of the local.
It was much more balanced as Sabalenka reached the Saturday title match without the loss of a set during the fortnight.
“I was able to focus on myself,” the winner said after one and three-quarter hours on court.
“I knew she was going to return well and get every ball back. I had to be ready to play the extra shot.
“I was ready for anything tonight.”
Sabalenka improved her record against Gauff to 3-4.
She will await a finalist from Ukrainian qualifier Dayana Yastremska and Chinese No. 1 Zheng Qinwen, playing her semi-final on the exact day a decade ago when compatriot Li Na won the title here.
Sabaenka finished off victory over gauff on her second match point, which she set up with an ace before her opponent dumped a return into the bottom of the net
She’s an incredible player,” Sabalenka said of the American. “Win or lose, we always have great matches.
“I hope we can play many more finals.”
The opening set was a roller coaster, with Sabalenka grabbing a 5-2 lead but needing a winning tiebreaker to see out the set.
The second seed earned a second-set break for 5-4 before serving out victory.
The loss was the first for Gauff this season after 10 straight victories; ; Sabalenka stretched her Australian open win streak to 13 on the trot.
Sabalenka is hoping to become fhe first player since Serena Williams (2016-2017) to win back-to-back finals here.
The Australian Open
Fashion-forward Osaka will tone it down at RG
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.”
ATP
Kyrgios due to resurface on German grass
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.
ATP
Djoko dropping hints that career has short shelf life
Novak Djokovic has been making it plain that the end of his career is approaching, with the 38-year-old dropping his strongest hint ever about his future on court.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion who has been keeping his ATP scheduling options open and has competed this season only at the Australian Open (finals loss to Carlos Alcaraz) and winning two rounds last month at Indian Wells.
“Tennis is still very important to me, but it’s no longer everything,” the Serb told Esquire Australia, adding that family matters and two children are starting to take precedence in his life.
“It’s one of the biggest challenges – finding the right balance between tennis and family life, especially as my children are growing and have school commitments, so they can’t travel with me as much as before.
“When I’m on the court, I’m motivated not just to win, but to set an example – to show them values like dedication, resilience, and love for what you do. That motivation is very powerful and very personal.”
Main photo:- Novak Djokovic was runner up to Carlos Alcaraz in AO26 – by ISF Ltd
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