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The US Open

Sabalenka doubles up to claim 2nd Open title

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Aryna Sabalenka backed up her 2024 US Open title with a second helping as she defeated Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 7-6 (3) to lift the fourth Grand Slam title of her career on Saturday.

The win assures the 27-year-old will retain her world No. 1 ranking and gives her a career matched set of two major trophies in Melbourne as well as a pair in New York.

Sabalenka was broken while serving for victory, leading a set and 5-4. But she swept through the ensuing tiebreaker to claim victory on her third match point, a winner deep into the corner.

“This is crazy, I’m speechless,” an emotional Sabalenka said. “Congrats to Amanda for reaching back-to-back finals at the Slams – she lost Wimbledon to Iga Swiatek.

“I know how much it hurts to lose these big finals. But you will enjoy it so much after these tough losses when you win your first.”

Sabalenka  thanked the crowd for their support after facing locals (Jessica Pegula) in the semis and final.

The final lasted 96 minutes, with the top seed  helped by 29 unforced errors from Anisimova – including a seventh double-fault which handed over five match points.

Sabalenka lost to Anisimova in their last meeting, a Wimbledon semi-final. The winner improved to 29-6 this season as she won the 21st title of her career and 6-3 in series

She is the first woman to win consecutive singles titles here since Serena Williams 2012-2014

Aryna Sabalenka celebrates at match point

Sabalenka claimed her 100th career Grand Slam main-draw match-win and her 34 at Flushing Meadows.

The top seed who has lost six of nine previous meetings with Aisismova had to get through a tight opening game where she saved three break points.and overcome stubborn early resistance from her American opponent before gunning her jets to pull away.

The match was up and down with nine breaks of serve.

Sabalenka fell to her knees after match point and then scrambled into her team box for hugs all around escorted by security; Anisimova sat on her bench, a towel on her face crying at what might have been.

“It’s been a great summer,” the American finalist said. “Losing two finals in a row is not great, but…

“I didn’t fight hard enough for my dreams today. Thanks for the support at my home Slam,” the New Jersey native said. “It’s been a crazy, crazy journey.”

Anisimova will gain a top five ranking on Monday as a result of her finals performance.

The Australian Open

Wimbledon goes modern with electronic reviews

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Wimbledon will bow to the high-tech future by introducing limited electronic reviews of line calls on major courts at the Championships, the club revealed on Saturday.

The All England Club will allow the technology on showcourts including Centre Court, No. 1 and four others. During controversial moments, competitors will be allowed to ask the chair umpire for a review of the point in question.

The wizardry is coming late to Wimbledon having been used at the US Open since 2023 and later adapted by the Australian Open. Roland Garros relies on marks in its clay surface to determine line calls.

Under the rules, players can ask for the review any number of times, with electronic line-calling now in effect at the grass-court major for a second year after the 2025 elimination of human line judges.

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ATP

Sinner claims full house with Indian Wells win

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World No. 2 Jannik Sinner became the youngest man to complete the full set of hard-court victories by beating Daniil Medvedev 7-6 (8) 7-6 (7) in the searing heat of Indian Wells.

The 24 year old Italian, didn’t face a break point during the final nor did he drop a set on his way to claiming his first title of the year and his 25th overall.

Sinner has won both hard court Grand Slams, with victories at the Australian Open in 2024 and 2025 and at the US Open in 2024.

In addition he has lifted all six Masters 1000 series hard court titles – adding the Indian Wells title to victories in Miami, Toronto, Cincinnati, Shanghai and Paris plus the season-ending ATP Finals.

Only Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer have achieved the same feat.

Main photo:- Jannik Sinner lifts Indian Wells Trophy – by ATPTour.com

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Indian wells

Her way or the highway for Raducanu on court

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Emma Raducanu remained defiant at the start of the Indian Wells Masters that if she does hire a new coach, it might not be to try and shape her game.

The Brit who won the 2021 US Open as a qualifier and then suffered a four-year drop in form due to injury, is in the market for a mentor – but only if he or she conforms to her vision for her tennis.

“Right now, it’s more about bringing my instincts back out, getting back in touch with myself,” the 23-year-old told the BBC.  “I have had a lot of people telling me what to do, how to play, and it hasn’t necessarily fit.

“So I want to come back to my natural way of playing. That takes time to relearn because that’s something that has been coached out of me a little bit.

“I don’t necessarily want to have one coach in the role because anyone I bring in is straight away going to be scrutinised – even if it’s a trial.

“I might feel the pressure to stick with them, even if it’s not necessarily the right decision.

“I would love to have a coach that works well, but I don’t think it’s necessarily going to be easy to find one person and they are going to check every box.”

Raducanu reached a WTA fiak in early February after exiting in the Australian Open second round. She lost both matches she played last month in the Gulf, at Doha and Dubai.

She is entering the first Masters of the season with former coach Mark Petchey filling in ad hoc in between his TV broadcast commentating duties.

But that solution is temporary. “With Mark I knew he’d be in Indian Wells so I asked him to come out a few days earlier just to do some stuff with me on the court and try to feel back in a better way with my game,” the No. 24 said.

“At the start of the year I didn’t feel too good but the last few days I’ve been feeling better. 

“It’s not something that has really been organised going forward but I knew he would be here and it’s been great, I always love being on court with him.”

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