The Australian Open
AO Women: Day 9 review
Victoria Azarenka rolled back the years to her second Australian Open title of a decade ago as she dominated third seed Jessica Pegula 6-4, 6-1 on Tuesday to move into the semi-finals.
The loss in 99 minutes left the American daughter of a billionaire NFL football owner stranded after losing five quarter-finals at the majors.
Azarenka, who won back-to-back Melbourne trophies in 2012-2013, achieved her last result of note at a major with her 2020 US Open final, which she lost to
Naomi Osaka.
She claimed her 47th match win at the tournament and will play for the final against Elena Rybakina, who beat Jelena Ostapenko 6-2, 6-4.
Pegula was completely outclassed by the wily veteran, who would not be denied at her preferred Grand Slam venue.
Azarenka broke five times and fired 17 winners with 20 unforced errors.
The elimination of Pegula means none of the leading four seeds will have survived into the semi-finals.
“It hurts to beat her,” Azarenka said of her frequent practice partner. “But I knew from the first point that I had to bring it.
“We had so many rallies. I’m proud I executed my game plan. It’s amazing to be in the semi-finals of another Grand Slam,” she said after winning with Aussie legend Rod Laver in the house.
“It’s nerve-wracking, you want to play your best tennis in front of the best.”
Rybakina, whose Wimbledon title last summer was barely noticed due to the ban on Russian playersl and the lack of ranking points available, got back into the spotlight in Melbourne.
Her defeat of fellow Grand Slam winner Ostapenko (Roland Garros 2017) put her into the final four here for the first time.
“Both of us are very aggressive players, and we were trying to push each other, put pressure from the first ball.”
The Laver roof had to be closed midway through due to rain, which changed conditions of play.
The winner advanced on her third match point – an ace – and said her big-match confidence has grown over the past few months.
“I got all the experience at Wimbledon, and it’s helping me now in Australia,” she said.
“It has gotten easier in this case after Wimbledon.
“I’m feeling good on the court and just really enjoying every match I’m playing here.”
Rybakina said the rain interruption to close the roof was not a problem for her: “I played really well today, even with this rain delay and everything.
“Overall the match was very solid from me.
“The break was not so long. In the end, I just stayed a bit in the gym, warmed up again, talked with the team, and went again on court.”
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.
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