The Australian Open
AO final: Sabalenka to face Rybakina
Aryna Sabalenka won her 10th match in a row on Thursday at the AustralianOpen, defeating Poland’s Magda Linette 7-6 (1), 6-1 to reach her first career final.
The fifth seed who has reached three Grand Slam semi-finals in the past 18 months will bid for her first major trophy on Saturday as she squares off against reigning Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina.
After a 7-6 (4), 6-3 defeat of two-time tournament champion Victoria Azarenka, the 25th ranked Rybakina will make her long-awaited Top 10 ranking debut.
She missed the normal chance to profit from 2022 Wimbledon winner’s points and prestige after the tournament was stripped of ranking status by tennis bosses for banning Russian and Belarus players – including Azarenka – due to Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
“I’m super happy to be in the final and ready to give everything I have left in one day,” Rybakina said.

“I didn’t expect (conditions) would be so different between day and night.
“It was much slower. The ball was heavier and it was difficult to move it.
“I had to adjust, but it was not easy because Vika, she’s a great player. She was playing really good, smart.
“Overall I’m happy that I managed to win the first set, it was a bit better in the second.”
Sabalenka claimed a WTA title at Adelaide this month and has won all six of her Open matches in straight sets.
The seed and the 45th-ranked Linette battled through a tiebreak first set lasting 53 minutes before Sabalenka unleashed in the tiebreaker to claim the opener.
She broke for 2-1 in the second set and increased the pressure all the way to victory, saving three break points for a 5-1 lead.
Linette held on to save three match points in the seventh game before Sabaenka wrapped up the evening a game later on her fourth match point.
“I’m happy I was able to get this win,” Sabalenka said. “She played really great tennis.

“I didn’t start well but I found my rhythm in the tiebreaker. I trusted myself and went for my shots.
“It was great tennis from me in the tiebreaker.”
Rybakina and the experienced Azarenka fought through an opening set which stretched to more than an hour, with the Kazakh taking the early match lead with a winning tiebreaker.
Rybakina went up a double break in the second set but had a hiccup in trying to close it out when she was broken while serving for victory.
But Azarenka was unable to ignite her mini-comeback, double-faulting to give away three match points.
Rybakina converted on her second as her opponent hit the net with a backhand to lose in just under one and three-quarter hours.
“It’s kind of hard to digest,” Azarenka said. “I had quite a few chances – not not converting them right now is difficult (to absorb).
“I can’t really say I’m proud of how I played… I’m proud of myself for how I fought and I tried, but tennis-wise I felt like I just wasn’t there, especially in the important moments.
“It’s not a great feeling right now to digest. But give me a couple hours and I can have probably a better outlook on this month in Australia.”
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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