The US Open
Sabalenka mental gymnastics only complicated final
Aryna Sabalenka found herself weighed down by errors in a 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 US Open finals loss to teenaged Coco Gauff.
The player who on Monday takes over the WTA top ranking admitted her mind was spinning too fast in the title match against the American teenager which lasted for just over two hours.
After losing the opening set, Gauff managed to turn the tide in front of a delirious home public and end an American women’s title drought here which stretched back six years.
“Sometimes I can get emotional. Today I was overthinking and I was missing balls I shouldn’t be missing,” Sabalenka said in defeat.
“I’m making a lot of winners and a lot of unforced errors… I got over-emotional in the second set – that’s where she started to believe she could win the match.
“It was like me against me.”
The 25-year-old was treated on court in the third set for a leg complaint. “It (adductor injury) was not a crazy one, it was just, like, super tight.
“I called for the physio, hoping that it’s going to help; I hoped I would start moving a little bit better.”
Sabalenka said that the knowledge that she would become No. 1 in a day helped to take away some of the sting of defeat.
“That’s why I’m not super depressed right now.. I’m definitely going for a drink tonight.
“Yes , we are athletes, but sometimes we are drinking, but not much.”
She added: “Becoming a world No. 1, it’s a huge improvement, and achievement. I’m really proud of myself that all those years I have been working so hard helped me to become No. 1.
“But for me it’s more about ending the year as No. 1, not just becoming No. 1 and then next week you’re second.
“I would like to finish the year as No. 1. That’s why I’m positive, and still motivated.”
The Australian Open
Wimbledon goes modern with electronic reviews
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.
ATP
Sinner claims full house with Indian Wells win
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
Indian wells
Her way or the highway for Raducanu on court
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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