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The Australian Open

AO 2024 Women’s Day 7

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Iga Swiatek hit a roadblock in her bid for the fourth round of the Australian Open on Saturday as the world No. 1 crashed to a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 upset loss to Czech Linda Noskova.

The 50th-ranked winner, playing the main draw here for the first time, broke twice in the deciding third set , with top seed Swiatek recovering the first saving the first but unable to repeat on the second.

Serving for victory leading 5-4, the 19-year-old Czech winner admitted to a case of jitters.

“I was a little shaky after missing two first serves, but then I pulled out an ace (to earn match point),” she said. Swiatek then drove a return long to lose after nearly two and a half hours 

It was the Pole’s earliest loss in a major since a pair of second-round defeats in 2019.

“I’m speechless, I knew it would be an amazing match with No. 1 – but I didn’t really think it would end like this.

“I’m so glad to get through this one.”

Zheng Qinwen, the 12th seed won an all-China battle over Wang Yefan 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (10-8), victory coming 48 hours after Wang took down half-Chinese former US Open champion Emma Raducanu.

Zheng served for victory leading 5-4 in the third set but was unable to close out the match.

She finally prevailed in the match tiebreaker as Wang missed a volley on second match point.

‘It was a really difficult tiebreak, we were both giving our best,” the winner said. as she prepared for a fourth round against Oceane Dodin, who beat French compatriot Clara Burel 6-2, 6-4.

“I’m so happy to win this match, Wang is a solid player who never gives up. I won this match, it’s unbelievable.”

Watching with interest  was China’s 2014 champion here, Li Na, in town for the legend event.

“It was a total surprise for me. I was feeling super happy to meet her and have the chance to talk with her.

“It was really special for me.”

Two-time champion Victoria Azarenka fought back from 4-1 down in the second set after claiming the first from Jelena Ostapenko, coming through on her first match point to earn a 6-1, 7-5 trip into the second week.

But the winner had to work for victory, saving four break points – three of them with aces – in the final game before her Latvian opponent sent a return into the net to lose after 84 minutes.

“Jelena is a great player,  very dangerous and a Grand Slam champion,” Azarenka said.

“I knew she’s coming off a really good form (Adelaide title). 

“I knew I had to start my match strong and try to put as much pressure as I can to not let her dictate the play. I think I did that really well in the first set.”

The 34-year-old Azarenka is playing Melbourne for the 16th time and has never lost to Ostapenko in four matches.

Anna Kalinskaya increased the pain for 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens, defeating the American 6-7 (8), 6-1, 6-4 on Saturday for a fourth-round place in the Australian Open.

Stephens, ranked 44th to her opponent’s 75th, reached the semi-finals here 11 years ago, but has also lost in the first round at the previous four editions here.

Victory for Kallnskaya took two and three-quarter hours, with the pair almost matching it on winners – 46 to 44 for Kalinskaya.

But 33 unforced errors off the Stephens racquet made the difference, with her opponent making only 15. 

The American was bidding to reach the second week of a Slam for the 17th time in her career.

Ukrainian qualifier Dayana Yastremska beat weekend Hobart champion and winner of her last seven matches Emma Navarro 6-2, 2-6, 6-1.

Yastremska knocked out reigning Wimbledon winner Marketa Vondrousova in the previous round; she is into the second week of a Slam for the first time in five years (Wimbledon 2019).

Italian Jasmine Paolini advanced past Anna Blinkova 7-6 (1), 6-4

Main photo:- Linda Noskova stuns No. 1 seed Iga Swiatek – by WTATennis.com

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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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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