The Australian Open
Sabalenka aims to end mix’n’match Open champions
Holder Aryna Sabalenka on Friday revealed her dream of imposing some order to a women’s field at the US Open, an event won by nine women over the past 10 editions.
The world No. 1 claimed the 2024 Open title and looks to try and back it up when play starts on Sundas as organisers squeeze in an additional day-full of lucrative paying customers.
Serena Williams was able to back up a trophy here, winning in 2012, 2013 and 2014. Naomi Osaka claimed a pair in 2018 and 2020.
“This is crazy. We know how unpredictable women’s tennis is, so we’ll have to work to change it,” Sabalenka said,.
.“My idea is to change that. I’m hopeful. I actually didn’t even know that statistic, so I’ll try to ignore it.
“I have a lot of pressure; that’s what comes with playing in such a big venue; everything feels so much bigger.
The second seed behind Iga Swiatek said she hopes to avoid the mistakes of the previous away of one-time New York winners.
“Maybe this has happened to previous defending champions, who come in and put a lot of pressure on themselves. I think I have enough experience to focus on myself and then replicate that in the result.”
Sabalenka needs a possible Open title to earn at least one Grand Slam this season after finals at Melbourne and Paris; in 2024 she won the Australian and US Opens.
But the 27-year-old refuses to worry about any consequences from missing out on a major trophy in 2025.
“Obviously, I would love to finish the season with a Grand Slam title and world No. 1.
“If I ultimately fail to achieve this goal, I’ll still think that this season has been really good for me, especially because of all the lessons I learned over these past few months.
“They will help me be much stronger next season. I worked harder in preseason to ensure that 2026 will be an even more successful year, a truly successful year.”
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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