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.
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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