The Australian Open
Australian Open Women’s Day 4
Aryna Sabalenka needed a comeback to preserve her untouchable Australian Open record, with the winner of the last two editions scratching out a 6-3, 7-5 win over Jessica Bouzas Maneiro to reach the third round on Wednesday.
The top seed won her 16th consecutive match at Melbourne Park as she recovered from 2-5 down in the second set in 94 minutes.
She is bidding this fortnight to become the first to win three straight editions since Martina HIngis 1997-1999.
Sabalenka wrapped up victory with 26 winners and 27 unforced errors as she battled her way out of a tight spot.
“I’m super happy to have finished this match in straight sets. She played incredible tennis, especially in the second set.
“I’m really happy I was able to turn around that set,” the top seed said..
Sabalenka now takes on Dane Clara Tauson, who beat Tatjana Maria 6-2, 6-2.
2024 runner-up Zheng Qinwen, who lost to Sabalenka here a year ago in the final, was stunned by German Laura Siegemund 7-6 (3), 6-3.
The Chinese fifth seed, who won the Paris Olympic gold medal last summer, went down in two and a quarter hours to the 97th-ranked Siegemund.despite firing 11 aces.
Siegemund, at age 36, is the second-oldest woman in the draw and is playing her 27th Grand Slam.
“I feel maybe today was not my day. There’s a lot of details in the important points,” Zheng said.
“I didn’t do the right choice. That’s all I can say.”
She said that a call for a time violation in the second set weighed on her to the end after saying she could not see the shot clock in her field of vision at the time of the infraction.
“That one really distracted me from the match. It’s also the first time I’ve had this situation in four years on the Tour.”
She said the match got out of her control in the opening stages. “I had a chance in the first set to break her. I just gave too many unforced errors.
“In the tiebreak I felt I didn’t give that extra energy, extra strength. Today was generally difficult for me.”
No. 7 Jessica Pegula, who helped the US to the United Cup this month, dispatched Belgian veteran Elise Mertens 6-4, 6-2 after entering the match with three losses in the series.
The American who played last weekend’s Adelaide final hit 24 winners and 10 10 unforced errors to advance.
Pegula had no problems with playing the first match of the day.
“I think we started at 11:30, I like being first on. you can have a set schedule. You don’t have to wait.
“I definitely don’t have to wait for any men’s matches, especially being at a Slam.
“You don’t have this lingering anxiety waiting throughout the day of what’s going to happen, all this stuff.
“I always love being kind of first on and done.”
Teenaged 14th seed Mirra Andreeva spent nearly two and a quarter hours in putting out Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (8).
“It was tough, but I‘m just really happy with the outcome. I’m really happy with the way I managed to come back in the third set.
i”I’s always tough when you don’t really know the opponent. I’ve never played her, never practiced with her.
“I would say that I had a lot of mistakes today. I’m just happy that I managed to win in the end.”
Former WTA No. 4 Belinda Bencic continued to storm through her return to tennis after giving birth, with the Swiss defeating Suzan Lamens of the Netherlands 6-1, 7-6 (3).
Bencic said conditions on a day of changing weather proved to be challenging.
“(It was about) the swirling wind and the weather changes and about the rain.
“But , the (side) court was tough for me also, because it’s just, like, blasting music there and people having beers and chatting.
“I was focusing a lot to not let it (all) distract me. Sometimes you pick up, like, one voice, and you just cannot, like, un-hear it.”
“I just really tried to focus on myself, not listen to the music … I think I managed today.”
Two-time champion Naomi Osaka came through in a comeback, 1-6, 6-1, 6-3 over Czech Karolina Muchova.
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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