The Australian Open
Rybakina holds off Sabalenka to win AO title
Elena Rybakina withstood a mid-match surge from two-time winner Aryna Sabalenka, with the Kazakh fighting back from 3-0 down in the final set to win her first Australian Open 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 on Saturday.
The ice queen of tennis who lets her racquet do most of her speaking, snatched the match from the world No. 1, beaten in a second consecutive final at Melbourne Park in just under two and a half hours as the pair played for the 15th time.
“It’s hard to find words,” the quiet winner said after lifting her second major after winning Wimbledon, 2022.
“Congrats to Aryna for amazing results for a couple of years. I know today was tough but I hope we play may more times together.
“It was such an incredible battle and the crowd support kept us going.
“This really is the Happy Slam and I always enjoy coming here to play.”.
Rybakina has now won 20 of her last 21 matches, defeating Sabalenka in their last meeting for the title at the WTA Finals in Saudi two months ago.

ELENA RYBAKINA (KAZ) with Daphne Akhurst trophy after winning Australian Open Women’s final
The defeat prevented Sabalenka from a trophy hat-trick in Melbourne and reversed the result here from 2023 when Sabalenka beat Rybakina for her first trophy here.
“I’m speechless right now, Elena played incredible tennis and had an incredible achievement.
“I always look forward to playing in Australia, I just hope next year (here) will be a better one for me.
“Thanks to my team who had to watch a losing final. But sometimes we win them so let’s hope for the best.
“Hopefully next time the Daphne (trophy) will be ours.”
Sabalenka began the third set in dominating fashion with a break and a 3-0 lead. But Rybakina got the break back for 2-3 and earned insurance with another service break for a 4-3 lead.

ELENA RYBAKINA (KAZ) with Daphne Akehurst Trophy after she wins Australian Open Women’s final. Aryna Sablaenka with Runner-up Trophy
Three games later it was done, with Rybakina pounding over an ace on match point.
Rybakina got away to a fast start with a break of Sabalenka in the opening game. The situation left the top seed on the back foot as she earned just two points in the opening two games of the final
Rybakina stayed the course as the two-time winner edged back in, with the Kazakh saving a pair of break points to claim a 5-3 lead before closing out the opening in 37 minutes on her first chance.
Sabalenka re-grouped immediately in the second set and shifting the pressure back onto her opponent.
The top seed squared the final at a set each with a break in the final game, with Rybakina lunging for a return which landed out.
Sabalenka extended her dominance as she won six consecutive games to earn a 3-0 lead in the deciding set before the former Wimbledon winner managed to earn a game for 1-3.
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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