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The Australian Open

Bencic sends the Swiss into United Cup final

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Belinda Bencic remained untouchable with a perfect 8-0 record in United Cup play at this edition as she sent Switzerland on Saturday into a first-ever final at the mixed team event.

The WTA No. 11 combined in the deciding mixed doubles with debutant Jakub Paul to put the finishing touches on a 2-1 defeat of Belgium, with the pair posting a 6-3, 0-6, 10-5 fin in the deciding rubber in Sydney.

Switzerland will line up Sunday night against Poland, which tipped the defending champion United States 2-1 as Katarzyna Kawa and Jan Zielinski combined for a 7-6 (5), 7-6 (4) defeat of Coco Gauff and Christian Harrison in the mixed rubber.

Poland has reached the final for a fourth straight year but will face a huge test against the Swiss

“It should be great matches all around,” Zielinski said seconds after a Harrison return sailed wide on match point.

“Stan (Wawrinka) is a legend in our sport, one of my childhood idols. It will be a privilege to face him (from the bench).

January 10: Stan Wawrinka during the match between Switzerland and Belgium at the United Cup in Sydney Photo by TENNIS AUSTRALIA/ CHRIS HUANG

“In a final anything can happen, I just hope we show our best tennis.”

Gauff started strong for the holders, defeating world No. 2 Iga Swiatek for a fourth consecutive time to claim the first point 6-4, 6-2 for the US.

Hubi Hurkacz, who underwent knee surgery in July and had not played a match before the tournament start nine days ago, beat Taylor Fritz with 16 aces for a 7-6 (1), 7-6 (2) victory to level, setting the stage for the mixed doubles triumph . 

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Bencic, whose 21-month old daughter Bella has served as something of an unofficial mascot for the Swiss team, headed by 40-year-old Stan Wawrnka, started the semi-final tie with a winning third-set tiebreaker over Els Mertens 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (0).

Wawrinka, playing in his 25th and final ATP season and recipient of an Australian Open wild card, has served as playing coach all week. 

He was unable to get past Belgian breakout Zizou Bergs, who won 6-3, 6-7 (4), 6-3 to knot the tie at a win apiece.

“Stan played really well and I really had to battle it out today,” Bergs said. “It was hard to control the ball on return.

It was very hard for me. To get rhythm is very tough. I’m just happy I found the solution.”

Bencic and Paul broke it open though as the pair sprinted to mixed doubles success.

“The team spirit is amazing and it starts with the captain (Wawrinka) ,” Bencic said. 

“He’s supporting all throughout my match and then he goes out to play his own match and then he’s back to support the doubles. 

“It starts with him but then with all the energy from our bench it gives us such a spirit to win.”

The 81st-ranked Paul, who won just six doubles matches last season, echoed those sentiments.

“It’s easy to find the energy with this team. It’s great to play with Belinda. Hats off to her to play for almost three hours and then come out for the doubles. 

“And great job by Stan to keep Zizou as long as possible on the court.”

The Australian Open

Fashion-forward Osaka will tone it down at RG

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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.”

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ATP

Kyrgios due to resurface on German grass

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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.

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ATP

Djoko dropping hints that career has short shelf life

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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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