BRISBANE (AFP) -- Spanish great Rafael Nadal's comeback to tennis came to an end when he lost a 3hr 25min marathon quarterfinal to Australian Jordan Thompson at the Brisbane International on Friday, Jan. 5. Australia's Jordan Thompson (left) and Spain's Rafael Nadal gesture after the former's win...
BRISBANE (AFP) -- Aryna Sabalenka admitted on Saturday, Dec. 30, she was feeling the pressure after a breakthrough 2023 saw her claim her a maiden Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, but a new mindset was helping her deal with it. Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka (AFP) The 25-year-old Belarusian also...
SYDNEY (AFP) -- Aryna Sabalenka will launch preparations for the defense of her Australian Open crown by playing at the Brisbane International, organizers said on Tuesday, Nov. 28. Belarus' tennis star Aryna Sabalenka (AFP) Elena Rybakina -- beaten by Sabalenka in the final in Melbourne at the...
CANCUN -- Second-ranked Iga Swiatek defeated world number one Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 6-2 on Sunday, Nov. 5, to reach the title match of the WTA Finals, where she will face fellow unbeaten Jessica Pegula. Poland's Iga Swiatek celebrates after defeating Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka during their women's...
CANCUN (AFP) -- World number one Aryna Sabalenka defeated Elena Rybakina 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 in a rain-disrupted group match on Friday, Nov. 3, to reach the semifinals of the WTA Finals. Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka returns the ball against Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina during their women's singles match of...
CANCUN (AFP) -- Jessica Pegula upset Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets at the WTA Finals in Cancun on Tuesday, Oct. 31, punishing an error-strewn performance by the world number one to all but guarantee a semifinal berth. USA's Jessica Pegula (AFP) World number five Pegula, who had beaten Sabalenka...
CANCUN (AFP) -- Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova on Monday, Oct. 30, joined world number one Aryna Sabalenka in hitting out at the WTA and the state of the court at the season-ending Finals in Cancun. Czech Republic's Marketa Vondrousova (AFP) Sabalenka on Sunday said she felt "disrespected"...
CANCUN (AFP) -- World number one Aryna Sabalenka said she feels "disrespected" by tennis' governing body and claimed the hastily-built court being used for the WTA Finals at the Mexican resort of Cancun is "not safe." Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka (AFP) Sabalenka eased past Greece's Maria Sakkari 6-0,...
CANCUN (AFP) -- Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka moved closer to clinching the year-end world number one ranking on Sunday, Oct. 29, by dominating Greece's Maria Sakkari in a group-stage opener at the WTA Finals. Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka (AFP) The 25-year-old from Belarus, who captured this year's...
CANCUN (AFP) -- Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka will try to hold off Poland's second-placed Iga Swiatek for the year-end world number one spot when the WTA Finals begin on Sunday, Oct 29, at Cancun, Mexico. Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka (AFP) The $9 million season-ending outdoor hardcourt showdown of eight...
BEIJING (AFP) -- World number one Aryna Sabalenka slumped out of the China Open in the women's quarterfinals with a 7-5, 6-2 defeat to Elena Rybakina on Friday, Oct. 6, in Beijing. Poland's Iga Swiatek (AFP) Most of the opening games went with serve until Rybakina broke the Belarusian late on and...
BEIJING (AFP) -- World number one Aryna Sabalenka said on Tuesday, Oct. 3, her performances in "key moments" were crucial to surviving a major scare in the China Open second round, after she defeated unseeded Katie Boulter 7-5, 7-6 (7/2) in Beijing. Belarus's Aryna Sabalenka reacts during her...
