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The Australian Open

Sabalenka promises retail therapy to beaten opponent

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Aryna Sabalenka on Thursday promised a full-on shopping trip to good friend and defeated opponent Paula Badosa after defeating the Spaniard 6-4, 6-2 to reach a third straight Australian Open final.

Sabalenka is within one victory of a title hat-trick after hammering her best friend in tennis, winning her 20th match in a row at the event.

But the winner is hoping to make even a few amends: “We’ll go shopping and I’ll pay for whatever you want,” she announced in the Laver arena after victory in 87 minutes.

“We’ve spoken in the past and agreed that no matter what happens on court, we wlll still be friends after our matches.

“I think we’re doing that pretty well. I hope she is still my friend. She will hate me for a few hours, but that’s OK.”

The one-way victory sends the champion at the last two Melbourne editions into a Saturday final against the winner from second seed Iga Swiatek or outsider Madison Keys.

Sabalenka showed no mercy to Spanish mate Badosa, with her only tight moment coming as Badosa came within a point of a 3-0 lead in the opening set.

With that speed bump negotiated, Sabalenka got to work in snuffing out any hopes for Badosa, who suffered last season with serious back injury problems,

Sabalenka finished off her sixth win in eight matches against Badosa on her first of three match points with a forehand winner to the empty court.

“I have no idea how I turned it around,” Sabalenka said of the early stages when Badosa took command. 

“It was a super–tough match against a friend, It;s great to see her on her highest level again,” she said of the former world No. 2..

“I’m just so happy to be through this difficult match.”

if she wins the title on Saturday, Sabalenka would be the first to earn three in Melbourne since Martina Hingis more than a quarter-century ago.

Main photo:- Aryna Sabalenka in full flow during semi final win – by WTATennis.com

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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