Friday, March 29TRUSTED FEARLESS INTERNATIONAL & NATIONAL NEWS PORTAL

Tag: Victoria Azarenka

Sports

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...
Sports

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...
Sports

Dayana Yastremska shocks Victoria Azarenka, advances to maiden Grand Slam quarter-finals | Tennis News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Ukrainian qualifier Dayana Yastremska created waves at the Australian Open on Monday as she secured her first-ever Grand Slam quarter-final berth by stunning two-time champion Victoria Azarenka. Yastremska exhibited a fearless performance, prevailing over the Belarusian 7-6 (8/6), 6-4 on Rod Laver Arena.Driven by a powerful serve and aggressive groundstrokes, the 23-year-old athlete outplayed her veteran opponent, who is ranked 93rd. Yastremska expressed her emotions after the match, saying, "I need to take a little bit of time to breathe because my heart, I feel, is going to jump out of my body. I always felt like I was running behind the train, but I think because I am a little bit of a fighter that's why I won this match."Yastremska's journey to the quarterfinals includes ...
Sports

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...
Sports

Victoria Azarenka and Karolina Pliskova slog way into second round of rainy Canadian Open | Tennis News – Times of India

Despite long rain delays and challenging first-round opponents, former world number ones Victoria Azarenka and Karolina Pliskova showcased their dominance on a soggy opening day at the Canadian Open in Montreal on Monday.In the first center court match, Azarenka faced off against Magda Linette, and the contest witnessed two play halts due to the rain. However, the determined 16th seeded Belarusian ultimately emerged victorious with a score of 6-3, 6-0, in a marathon match that took nearly five hours to complete.Azarenka's focus remained unwavering throughout the match, as she surged ahead with a 5-2 lead in the opening set before sealing it with a break just before the second rain interruption. Following a three-hour pause, Azarenka returned to the court with no intention of risking fur...
Sports

Azarenka ordered to take off PSG shirt at Australian Open | Tennis News – Times of India

MELBOURNE: Self-described "obnoxious soccer mom" Victoria Azarenka was ordered to take off her Paris St Germain shirt at the Australian Open on Thursday before bowing out of the Grand Slam with a straight sets defeat by Elena Rybakina in the semi-finals.The 33-year-old Belarusian twice champion has worn shirts showing support for French soccer champions PSG at the tournament and as a gesture to her six-year-old son Leo, who is also a big fan of the Paris club.After an exchange of words with the chair umpire at Rod Laver Arena, Azarenka took off the PSG shirt before warming up in her regular kit against Rybakina."They told me to take it off twice because I had a different shirt," the 22nd seed told reporters after losing 7-6(4) 6-3 to Kazakh Rybakina."I think it's the issue with the spon...
Sports

Vintage Azarenka downs Pegula to make Australian Open semis | Tennis News – Times of India

MELBOURNE: Victoria Azarenka rolled back the years at the Australian Open on Tuesday as the two-times champion crushed third seed Jessica Pegula 6-4 6-1 to reach the semi-finals and remain on course for her third Grand Slam crown.Victory marked the first time in a decade that the 33-year-old had made it to the last-four at Melbourne Park and she will make her first appearance in a major semi-final since the U.S. Open in 2020 where she went on to lose in the title clash."Well, it hurts to beat her because I always want her to do well, but the same time I know I have to play my best tennis," Azarenka said of her friend and practice partner Pegula."She's been playing amazing, very consistent and I knew from the first point I have to bring it."We had so many rallies and I wanted to try to s...
Sports

Djokovic faces Carballes Baena, Swiatek meets Niemeier at Australian Open | Tennis News – Times of India

MELBOURNE: Novak Djokovic will begin his quest for a record-extending 10th Australian Open title against Roberto Carballes Baena while top-ranked Iga Swiatek meets Jule Niemeier, following the draw for the year's first Grand Slam on Thursday.Defending champion Rafa Nadal will look for his first win of 2023 when he takes on Jack Draper in his opener, as the Spanish top seed looks to put an injury-hit 2022 and a shaky start to the new season behind him.Nadal won last year's title in an epic final beating Russian Daniil Medvedev, who takes on Marcos Giron first. Second seed Casper Ruud -- twice a runner-up on the Grand Slam stage last year -- plays Tomas Machac.Swiatek, who has largely dominated the women's game after the retirement last year of Australian Ash Barty following her triumph a...
Sports

Novak Djokovic recovers from shaky start to reach Adelaide International quarter-finals | Tennis News – Times of India

ADELAIDE: Novak Djokovic overcame a shaky start to beat Frenchman Quentin Halys on Thursday and reach the Adelaide International quarter-finals, stepping up his preparations for the Australian Open.The top seed from Serbia won 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/5) and will face Canada's Denis Shapovalov in the last eight of the Adelaide International.Djokovic returned to the scene of his 2007 title run on Tuesday with a comfortable straight-sets win over France's Constant Lestienne.He backed that up against Lestienne's doubles partner Halys but was slow to get going, slumping 2-5 in the first set before clinching victory."It was a great performance from my opponent today," said the 35-year-old Djokovic, who is warming up for a tilt at a 10th Australian Open title after missing last year's Grand Slam whe...