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Tag: Aryna Sabalenka

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How Aryna Sabalenka powered her way past Zheng Qinwen to defend Australian Open crown

Precious few tennis players in the world hit a ball as hard as Aryna Sabalenka. Even fewer, perhaps nobody, commit to the level of all-out aggression that the Belarusian World No.2 produces on every point, in every match, every week.As all power players have had to do to excel on the big stage, Sabalenka’s consistency at the biggest tournaments are a product of her building a more well-rounded game with the mental resilience to deal with setbacks and emotional composure during big moments. But when she’s on song, it is the sheer ferocity of her groundstrokes, the power that comes from her racquet that make so many of her shots unreturnable, that makes her the toughest prospect to deal with on tour. And just as each of her previous six opponents had done in what had been a flawless campa...
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Factbox: Australian Open women’s singles champion Aryna Sabalenka | Tennis News – Times of India

MELBOURNE: Factbox on Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka, who beat China's Zheng Qinwen 6-3, 6-2 in the Australian Open final on Saturday to win her second Grand Slam title.ARYNA SABALENKAAge: 25Nation: BelarusWTA Ranking: 2Seeding: 2Grand Slam titles: 2 (Australian Open 2023, 2024)ROAD TO FINALFirst round: beat Ella Seidel (Germany) 6-0 6-1Second round: beat Brenda Fruhvirtova (Czech Republic) 6-3 6-2Third round: beat 28-Lesia Tsurenko (Ukraine) 6-0 6-0Fourth round: beat Amanda Anisimova (US) 6-3 6-2Quarter-finals: beat 9-Barbora Krejcikova (Czech Republic)6-2 6-3Semi-finals: beat 4-Coco Gauff (US) 7-6(2) 6-4Final: beat 12-Zheng Qinwen (China) 6-3 6-2EARLY LIFE* Born in Minsk.Began playing tennis at age six.CAREER TO DATE* Began her professional career playing on the ITF Circuit in 2012.* Won th...
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Aryna Sabalenka crushes Zheng Qinwen to defend Australian Open title | Tennis News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: 25-year-old Belarusian defending champion and world number two Aryna Sabalenka defeated Chinese 12th seed Zheng Qinwen 6-3, 6-2 to win the Australian Open women's singles title in Melbourne on Saturday.Sabalenka took just 33 minutes to race through a 6-3 win in the first set at Melbourne Park.This is Sabalenka's second Grand Slam title while Zheng was gunning for a first.Sabalenka became the first woman to defend the Australian Open title since 2013.It capped an incredible display of power and poise from Sabalenka over the past fortnight, with the 25-year-old surging to the title without losing a set through her seven matches.The Belarusian matched the achievement of compatriot Victoria Azarenka, who won the tournament in 2012 and 2013.The Belarusian opened with a comfortable...
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Aryna Sabalenka storms past Coco Gauff into Australian Open final | Tennis News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: In a powerful display of tennis prowess, world number two Aryna Sabalenka secured her place in the Australian Open final by defeating Coco Gauff on Thursday in Melbourne.The formidable Belarusian outplayed the fourth seed with a scoreline of 7-6 (7/2), 6-4, taking one hour and 42 minutes on Rod Laver Arena. This victory allowed Sabalenka to avenge her previous defeat by the American teenager in the US Open final last year.Sabalenka, who will face either Chinese 12th seed Zheng Qinwen or Ukrainian qualifier Dayana Yastremska in the final, showcased her determination and skill throughout the match.By reaching the Australian Open final, she became the first player since Serena Williams in 2016 and 2017 to achieve back-to-back finals at this Grand Slam.This win also positions Sab...
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Aryna Sabalenka smashes Lesia Tsurenko 6-0, 6-0 to reach Australian Open fourth round – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka showcased her exceptional form at the Australian Open by dismantling 28th seed Lesia Tsurenko with a flawless 6-0, 6-0 victory, securing a spot in the fourth round. Sabalenka, the Belarusian second seed and reigning Australian Open champion, has now lost only six games in the entire tournament.Wearing a vivid red outfit, Sabalenka demonstrated her intent right from the start on Rod Laver Arena, completing the match in a swift 52 minutes.Her devastating power left Tsurenko struggling to respond, managing only a mere 11 points in the first set, compared to Sabalenka's 27.In the second set, the story remained the same, as Sabalenka continued her dominance. Despite Tsurenko having two points to get on the board in the second game on her serve, S...
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Novak Djokovic primed for more success in new era at Australian Open | Tennis News – Times of India

MELBOURNE: Novak Djokovic is set to commence his title defence at the Australian Open, starting against qualifier Dino Prizmic. The world number one, currently the last of the 'Big Three' in men's tennis following the retirement of Roger Federer and the continued absence of Rafael Nadal due to injury, is aiming to secure an unprecedented 11th Australian Open title.Melbourne Park is gearing up for its first tournament in 25 years without the presence of either Federer or Nadal. Djokovic, eyeing his 25th major title, is in a position to surpass Margaret Court's Grand Slam haul.As the top seed and defending champion, Djokovic remains a formidable force and a favorite in the tournament, with many eyes on whether he can make history once again in Melbourne.'My favourite place, no doubt'"I'm ...
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Watch: Coco Gauff from dancing in the stands as a kid to winning the US Open title | Tennis News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Dreams are meant to come true. With sheer will power and immense determination, focus and hard work, anything is possible. It stands true in the case of Coco Gauff who became the first American teenager to win the country's major tennis tournament since Serena Williams in 1999.Gauff burst onto the scene at 15 by becoming the youngest qualifier in Wimbledon history and making it to the fourth round in her Grand Slam debut in 2019. She reached her initial major final at last year's French Open, finishing as the runner-up to Iga Swiatek.As a pro athlete from a young age, as someone of whom greatness has been expected by some and doubted by others, Gauff has always taken it all in and kept moving forward, trying to learn from each setback. And now, at a tournament she used to vis...
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Aryna Sabalenka fends off Madison Keys to reach US Open final | Tennis News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Aryna Sabalenka staged an impressive comeback from the brink of defeat to triumph over the 17th-seeded American Madison Keys in a third-set tie-break, securing her spot in the US Open final against the hometown favorite, Coco Gauff.In the second set, Keys had the opportunity to serve for the match, but Sabalenka, who is set to become the world number one, mounted a remarkable comeback against the 2017 runner-up. Sabalenka secured the victory with a scoreline of 0-6, 7-6 (7/1), 7-6 (10/5), earning her ticket to her second Grand Slam final."She played incredible tennis, it was just another level. Somehow, I don't know how I turned around this match," said Sabalenka, the second seed."It really means a lot to be in the final of the US Open for the first time."Sabalenka rode an em...
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Jabeur rides the punches to beat Sabalenka and reach Wimbledon final | Tennis News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Ons Jabeur displayed her strategic finesse on the tennis court as she defeated Aryna Sabalenka to secure her place in the Wimbledon final for the second time. In a hard-fought match, Jabeur overcame Sabalenka's powerful shots with her skillful artistry, prevailing with a 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-3 victory in London.Despite losing the opening set and facing the prospect of more disappointment on Centre Court, Jabeur's delicate strokeplay and clever shot selection gradually subdued the relentless power of her Belarusian opponent. This triumph propels Jabeur into the final, where she will face unseeded Czech player Marketa Vondrousova, a former French Open finalist who earlier ended the aspirations of Ukrainian Elina Svitolina.Jabeur, seeded sixth in the tournament, has previously reached...
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Ons Jabeur beats champion Elena Rybakina to reach Wimbledon semis | Tennis News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Tunisian tennis player Ons Jabeur avenged her defeat in last year's final by staging a comeback and defeating third-seeded defending champion Elena Rybakina from Kazakhstan in London on Wednesday.Jabeur triumphed with a score of 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-1, securing a place in the Wimbledon semi-finals.In the previous year's final, Jabeur had been on track to become the first Arabic female champion but eventually lost in three sets.However, in the 2023 tournament, the sixth-seeded Jabeur displayed resilience and determination as she mounted a spirited comeback after losing the first set tiebreak.Following the first set, Jabeur elevated her game, taking more risks with her shots and gradually establishing herself as the dominant player on the court.She won five consecutive games, claimin...
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Sabalenka overpowers Keys to book semi-final spot

World number two Aryna Sabalenka roared into the Wimbledon semi-finals with a 6-2 6-4 win over American Madison Keys on Wednesday. The Belarusian, who has a tiger tattoo on her left arm, powered to victory on Court One and will face either Ons Jabeur or defending champion Elena Rybakina in the last four. Second seed Sabalenka, 25, broke in the first game of the match, converting a fourth break point with a sweet backhand that sailed just over the net and out of the reach of Keys. She broke the American 28-year-old again, giving her no time to think and launching every ferocious shot with a matching howl. Sabalenka served out the set after 38 minutes, looking the favourite to reach her second semi-final at the All England Club having done so on her last appearance in 2021. However, Keys,...
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Aryna Sabalenka glides past Ekaterina Alexandrova into Wimbledon quarter-finals | Tennis News – Times of India

LONDON: Second seed Aryna Sabalenka continued her march towards a second Grand Slam title this year with a comfortable 6-4 6-0 victory over Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova on Monday to power into the Wimbledon quarter-finals.Both players were absent from the tournament last year after the grasscourt Grand Slam decided to ban players from Russia and its ally Belarus due to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, which it calls a "special military operation".Belarusian Sabalenka said she hoped to make up for lost time by continuing her winning run in London on her return."I'm really enjoying being here," Sabalenka said. "I'm super happy to be back and I'm really enjoying every second on court... I just want to stay as long as I can so I can enjoy the atmosphere."The normally aggressive Australian Ope...
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Muchova stuns Sabalenka to move into French Open final | Tennis News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Unseeded Karolina Muchova shocked second seed Aryna Sabalenka in a thrilling semi-final at the French Open to secure a spot in the final. Muchova saved a match point before winning 7-6(5), 6-7(5), 7-5, ending Sabalenka's quest to become the world number one.Sabalenka, who could have claimed the top spot in the rankings by winning the title in Paris, missed an opportunity at 5-2 in the third set. Muchova tactfully defused Sabalenka's powerful game and won the last five games in a row.As the only remaining unseeded player in both the men's and women's draws, Muchova approached the match strategically. Instead of engaging in a power battle from the baseline, she opted for a lighter touch. Muchova utilized slices and drop shots to disrupt Sabalenka's rhythm and forced her to make...
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Aryna Sabalenka downs Elina Svitolina to reach French Open semis | Tennis News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: In a highly anticipated match at the French Open, world number two Aryna Sabalenka from Belarus powered past Ukraine's Elina Svitolina 6-4, 6-4 on Tuesday, securing her place in the semi-finals in Paris.The clash between these two talented players held intrigue, particularly due to Svitolina's decision not to shake hands with players from Russia or Belarus following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine last year, which Ukraine refers to as a 'special military operation'.Sabalenka, the Australian Open champion, had attracted attention recently by refusing to engage with the media after her last two matches. She faced extensive questioning regarding the war and her country's involvement as a staging ground for Russian troops.However, on Court Philippe Chatrier, Sabalenka displayed a fo...
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Karolina Muchova pummels Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova to book French Open semi-final spot | Tennis News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Karolina Muchova halted former French Open runner-up Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova's impressive comeback by securing a 7-5, 6-2 triumph on Tuesday, propelling her to the semi-finals of Roland Garros for the very first time in her career.In the upcoming semi-final clash, Muchova, representing the Czech Republic, is set to face either Aryna Sabalenka, the second seed from Belarus, or Elina Svitolina, the former world number three from Ukraine. The quarter-final between Sabalenka and Svitolina carries political undertones and is scheduled to take place later in the day."I don't know what to say, it's been an incredible two weeks and I'm glad I'm still in the competition," Muchova said."I will for sure watch the match (between Sabalenka and Svitolina), I'm not sure if I will watch it ...
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Ukrainian spectator has oversized flag cut in two at French Open | Tennis News – Times of India

PARIS: A Ukrainian woman had her national flag cut in two by French Open staff because it was 'too big', ahead of Tuesday's highly-charged quarter-final clash between Ukraine's Elina Svitolina and Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus.Anna, who declined to give her family name, waited quietly as the flag was taken away by a Roland Garros employee at the entrance gate and was returned to her in two pieces."Here at the FFT (French tennis federation) we have nothing against the Ukrainian flag. On the contrary, we would do the same with any other flag," the employee told Anna."I came here to support Elina Svitolina. It's a flag that I've taken everywhere, to stadiums, notably at Euro 2016," Anna, who lives in France, told Reuters."Now I have two flags," she added with a smile.The flag was more than on...
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French Open: Aryna Sabalenka survives first set implosion to overcome Sloane Stephens | Tennis News – Times of India

PARIS: World number two Aryna Sabalenka weathered a spectacular first set implosion to beat American Sloane Stephens 7-6(5) 6-4 on Sunday and advance to the French Open quarter-finals.The Belarusian gave Stephens, the 2017 U.S. Open champion, no hope at the start, unleashing a barrage of baseline missiles that left the 30-year-old stunned and looking around for help.Sabalenka, the hardest-hitting player on the women's tour and the 2023 Australian Open champion, raced to a 5-0 lead with Stephens winning a total of just eight points.But the American, no stranger to the Paris big stage after reaching the final in 2018, was not done yet, clawing her way back and saving a set point at 5-2 to cut the deficit.With her own first serve wilting, Sabalenka, in complete freefall by now, missed anot...
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French Open: Sabalenka shrugs off ‘hate’ and jeers to make second round | Tennis News – Times of India

World No.2 Aryna Sabalenka comfortably secured her spot in the second round of the French Open on Sunday with a straight sets victory over Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk. However, the match was overshadowed by the ongoing sporting fallout from Russia's invasion of Ukraine, leading to a tense atmosphere at Roland Garros.Ahead of their encounter, Sabalenka acknowledged the possibility that Kostyuk might harbour negative sentiments towards a player from Belarus, given Belarus' military alliance with Russia. Despite the tensions, the 25-year-old Belarusian remained composed on Court Philippe Chatrier, ultimately prevailing with a convincing 6-3, 6-2 win.At the conclusion of the match, Kostyuk promptly walked past her opponent and headed straight to her chair, disregarding the customary handshake. ...
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Iga Swiatek braced for tougher path to third Paris title | Tennis News – Times of India

PARIS: Iga Swiatek, the talented Polish player, shattered the notion of being solely a clay-court specialist when she clinched her third Grand Slam title at the 2022 US Open. However, there is no denying that the red clay remains the perfect fit for her versatile game, making Roland Garros her favorite playground.As she approaches her 22nd birthday during the first week of the French Open, Swiatek enters as the favorite for a third title in four years in Paris, though she may encounter tougher opposition than her unstoppable campaign last year.Swiatek's affinity for clay is undeniable. In 2022, she dropped just one set en route to claiming the title at Roland Garros, reaffirming her status as a force to be reckoned with.Her victory not only marked her second French Open triumph but also...
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Elena Rybakina wins Italian Open after Anhelina Kalinina retires | Tennis News – Times of India

ROME: Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan won the Italian Open title on Saturday when her Ukrainian opponent Anhelina Kalinina was forced to retire through injury.World number six Rybakina, the reigning Wimbledon champion, was leading 6-4, 1-0 when Kalinina called it quits with a left thigh injury shortly after midnight in a final long-delayed by rain.Rybakina, 23, is the first player to capture two WTA 1000 titles this season having already won the prestigious Indian Wells hard court tournament.She was also runner-up at the Australian Open and in Miami."I wish Anhelina a speedy recovery, she's a good friend of mine," said Rybakina after the 68-minute final which only got underway at 11pm."She has done an amazing job, I hope she is fit for Roland Garros."She told the hardy fans in the stadium,...