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The Australian Open

AO 2024 Women’s Day 12

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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.

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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ATP

Djoko dropping hints that career has short shelf life

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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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ATP

Tentative Tsitsipas slams former coach Goran

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Fading former top 10 regular Stefanos Tsitsipas has lashed out at one-time coach Goran Ivanisevic, accusing the former Wimbledon winner of unfair criticism during their brief collaboration last season.

Greek Tsitsipas once stood among the big beasts of the ATP, achieving a top ranking of this in the world,  with Grand Slam finals at Roland Garros and Melbourne.

But with his ranking now at 49th, the 27-year-old remains in a struggle with his game and blames most of his troubles on a lingering back injury.

Croat Ivanisevic, 54, had a brief spell with Tsitsipas last summer as the player attempted to break away from his longtime coach, his father Apostolos.

But family ties proved to be too strong, with Ivanisevic given the elbow after a Wimbledon first-round retirement.

Tsitsipas has complained of unfair criticism from his one-time mentor after Ivanisevic – who formerly coached Novak Djokovic – let loose on the player’s work ethic.

“He has to find a solution for his back issue. I was shocked. I’ve never seen such a poorly prepared player in my life,” Ivanisevic told Croat outlet SportKlub recalling the incident.

“Me, at my age and with this bad knee, I’m three times in better shape than him,” the former world No. 2 added.  “In the end, I didn’t say anything bad. Everything I said was true and proved to be so.”

While Ivanisevic has moved on to work with French youngster Arthur Fils, Tsitsipas continues his comeback struggle.

“I didn’t see any point in it. If it was a way of him pushing me into working harder and getting my s*** together, it was definitely not the right tactic.

“I was really hurt,” he told London’s Times.

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