The Australian Open
AO Women: Day 2
Fifth seed Aryna Sabalenka beat the heat with a quick-fire win into the Australian Open second round on Tuesday as summer temperatures soared into the upper 30s Celsius.
An hour or so after her win, play was halted for a minimum of two and a half hours under the tournament’s heat rules, creating a logjam for a crowded Day 2 schedule.
Sabalenka led a parade of early women’s winners who all got the job done in around an hour on court at Melbourne Park.
Sanalenka, who tuned up with a title at the WTA Adelaide event, defeated Czech Tereza Martincova 6-1, 6-4 in 69 minutes.
“It wasn’t an easy match, I’m just happy with the good start here. I’m really doing everything I can to get as far as I can.
“The only thing I can say is that I’m really working hard, physically and mentally; I’m ready to go deep.
“Hopefully I will do my best on court, but I definitely need to cool down,:” she said post-match.
Sabalenka was joined as a quick winner by Camilla Giorgi who needed 55 minutes to blow Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova off the court 6-0 6-1.
The Italian didn’t have to out-perform, with her opponent contributing more than 20 unforced errors.
“It was a great match, especially in the first round,” Giorgi said. “It’s a very good start to the day.”
Taylor Townsend, once touted as a hot prospect but bothered by a weight problem, posted her first win at a Grand Slam in three years.
The American wild card entry who took time away from the game to have a child, buffeted Diane Parry 6-1, 6-1, taking a mere 57 minutes.
“I just felt like from start to finish I was in control of what I was doing,” she said.
“I was able to just maintain my composure and continue to execute. For my next match I want to start where I ended today and keep progressing.”
Ekatereina Alexandrova clocked the shortest match time with her 52-minute defeat of Belgian Ysaline Bonaventure 6-2, 6-1.
French fourth seed Carolina Garcia, winner of the WTA Finals in November, put aside a first-round loss here a year ago, overwhelming Canadian qualifier Katherine Sebov 6-3, 6-0 in 65 minutes, winning the final nine games.
The winner said she hardly expected to be placed on the Laver show court, but she quickly adapted to the prime-time venue.
“It was nice to be able to walk in the shadow. I don’t know if in the crowd there is some AC or whatever (electric fans blowing water drops into the stands), but it felt warm, but it felt okay.
“There were nerves, I think there will always be some. That means I care about what I’m doing.
“I was not expecting at the beginning to play on Rod Laver, so I was a little bit surprised when I saw the schedule out. It’s actually my first win on Rod Laver, so it was pretty nice.”
Canada got a revenge win as 2021 US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez defeated Alize Cornet of France 7-5, 6-2, breaking through for a first win here after three first-round defeats.
“I did well to manage my emotions, and manage the heat,” the winner said.
“I tried not to get too hot-headed. I’m happy to be on to the next round.”
2020 finalist and two-time Grand Slam winner Garbine Muguruza served for victory but was eventually dealt out in her opening match, with the Spaniard falling 3-6, 7-6(3), 6-1 to Elise Mertens of Belgium.
Muguruza has now lost four consecutive matches this season in the first round.
Jannik Sinner has broken his silence as the end of his three-month ban from tennis nears, with the world No. 1 admitting it will take “a little time to find myself again.”
The Italian gave his thoughts to SkySports Italia as he prepares to resume training in a few weeks with his ban for involuntary doping infractions ending on May 4, just a fortnight before the start of Roland Garros.
Sinner signed an agreement with anti-doping body WADA to serve time away from the sport which he dominated in 2024 after inadvertently ingesting a banned substance off the hands of his now-ex masseur last season.
The player called the entire episode “a little unfair” but accepted an ad-hoc sanction arrangement.
“It could have been much worse. We accepted (the suspension) quickly, even if I did not really agree .
“We had to choose the lesser of two evils and I think that’s what we did. What I’m going through is a little unfair, but if you look at it, it could have been much worse – it could have been even more unfair “
The 23-year-old added: “Once I made that decision, it took me a little time to find myself again. Other things happened, beyond this affair, which weren’t easy for me.
“It will take me a little more time to digest all of that, but I’m here. I can’t wait to make my return to Rome (Masters which begins a few days after his return).”
Sinner, a two-time Australian Open champion who also holds the US open crown. is unsure of his reception by peers when he comes back to the Tour in Rome.
“I don’t know what could happen . I’m certain of how things happened – I’m innocent.
“I want to play tennis and be very calm, that’s the end of it. I’m sure everything will be fine, even if it might take a while to get going again at first .”
Despite being out of action, Sinner has managed to maintain the top ATP ranking as rivals Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz continue to trail through poor results during their rival’s enforced absence.
Paula Badosa has given herself less than a month to be fit for the Madrid Masters after withdrawing from Miami with a recurring back problem.
The Spaniard who once touched second in the world retired before her fourth-round match in Florida more than a week ago.
She is hoping to be back on court when Madrid begins in three weeks.
The 27-year-old described her injury as “small hernia that has moved from the vertebra, but I’m being treated for the best treatments.
“My goal is to be back in Madrid.”
This year’s Australian Open semi-finalist added: “I’m doing well. I’m trying to take things positively, put things in perspective, and I’m doing fine.
“Physically? Well, I’ve had every test possible.
“This time I was more scared than I should have been because it was on the opposite side.
“I’ve always had discomfort on the right side, and now it’s on the left. I was worried it was another stress fracture, but fortunately it isn’t.”
Main photo:- Paula Badosa in Miami action before retiring – by ISF Ltd
Aryna Sabalenka shook off a one-hours rain delay as she defeated Jessica Pegula for the third time in a row, winning the Miami Masters on Saturday 7-5, 6-2.
The world No. 1 kept a firm grip on the top ranking spot after dismissing her American opponent after finals wins over Pegula in Cincinnati and New York last season.
Victory in just under 90 minutes was the second title of the season for Sabalenka, who lost 2025 finals at the Australian Open and earlier this month at Indian Wells to teenaged Mirra Andreeva.
The final began an hour late due to rain in South Florida.
Sabalenka broke on six of her 14 chances while dropping her own serve four times.
Sabalenka finally lifted the trophy here on her seventh appearance after reaching quarter-finals in 2021 and 2023.
The winner claimed her eighth title at the 1000 level while improving her record over Pegula to 7-2.
Sabalenka owns 19 career trophies including back-to-back Australian Opens and the US Open last September.
Sabalenka hoping to turn her luck in Stuttgart
Rune rises to the occasion with defeat of Alcaraz
Zverev grabs a birthday gift with third Munich title
-
Dubai3 weeks agoKasatkina confirms move to Australia
-
ATP4 weeks agoHenman joins Team Europe as Noah’s assistant
-
ATP4 weeks agoDimitrov casts his spell on Khachanov
-
Rouen5 days agoDart apologizes for “stinky” opponent jibe
-
Miami Open4 weeks agoPaolini powers past Osaka in Miami
-
ATP3 weeks agoBadosa aims for back injury return by Madrid
-
Miami Open4 weeks agoRaducanu set for huge rankings boost after Miami Open win
-
Miami Open4 weeks agoPhilippine teen swats Swiatek in Miami