Tennis

Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva has made history at the Dubai Tennis Championships, defeating world number two Iga Swiatek in a stunning 6-3 6-3 quarter-final victory. At just 17 years old, Andreeva becomes the youngest player ever to reach the tournament's semi-finals. The match, lasting one hour and 36 minutes, saw Andreeva demonstrate remarkable resilience. Despite falling behind 3-1 in the second set, she mounted an impressive comeback, winning five consecutive games to defeat the five-time Grand Slam champion from Poland. Andreeva's victory sets up a semi-final clash against either Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan or American Sofia Kenin. After the match, Andreeva acknowledged her pre-match nerves, referencing their previous encounter in Cincinnati last year where Swiatek emerged victorious. "I just told myself that I played great and I just need to continue to play aggressive and go for my shots," she […]

Novak Djokovic's bid for a record-extending 11th Australian Open title and 25th major championship ended abruptly when he retired injured during his semi-final match against Alexander Zverev. The 37-year-old Serb, with his upper left leg heavily taped from a muscle injury sustained in his quarter-final win over Carlos Alcaraz, lost the first set 7-6 (7-5) before withdrawing from the match. "I did everything I possibly could to manage the muscle tear," Djokovic explained. "Towards the end of the first set, I just started feeling more and more pain. It was too much to handle." After slapping a volley into the net on set point, Djokovic approached Zverev, shook his hand, and waved to the crowd with a double thumbs up. Some sections of Rod Laver Arena responded with audible boos. "I knew even if I won the first set, it […]

Iga Swiatek has secured her place in the Australian Open semifinals with a commanding 6-1 6-2 victory over eighth seed Emma Navarro. She will face Madison Keys, who fought back to defeat Elina Svitolina 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in a gripping contest. The quarterfinals showcased contrasting matches at Melbourne Park. Swiatek's performance reinforced her position as a title contender, while Keys demonstrated resilience to reach her first Australian Open semifinal in a decade. A minor controversy emerged during Swiatek's match when she retrieved a drop shot that appeared close to a double-bounce in the second set's fifth game, a crucial moment that impacted Navarro's momentum. Despite the one-sided scoreline, Swiatek, who maintained high energy throughout, acknowledged the match was "much tougher" than it appeared. She holds a 4-1 record against Keys but remains cautious, recalling her previous loss to the American […]

American tennis star Coco Gauff expressed disappointment over TikTok becoming unavailable in the United States while competing at the Australian Open. The 20-year-old athlete marked the occasion by writing "RIP TikTok USA" with a broken heart on a camera lens after defeating Belinda Bencic in the fourth round. The social media platform went offline for American users ahead of new legislation banning the platform due to concerns about its connections to the Chinese government. Gauff, who has amassed over 750,000 TikTok followers, shared her thoughts after her 5-7 6-2 6-1 victory over Switzerland's Bencic in Melbourne. "Hopefully it comes back. It's really sad. I love TikTok," said Gauff, who will face Spanish 11th seed Paula Badosa in the quarter-finals. She described the platform as an escape and part of her pre-match routine, adding "I guess it'll force me to read […]

Novak Djokovic advanced to the Australian Open quarter-finals through a straight-sets victory over Jiri Lehecka, setting up a highly anticipated match against Carlos Alcaraz. Djokovic, pursuing a record 25th Grand Slam title, defeated the Czech 24th seed 6-3 6-4 7-6 (7-4). His upcoming opponent Alcaraz secured his spot after British player Jack Draper withdrew due to a hip injury. The matchup carries significant history, with Alcaraz winning their last two Wimbledon finals, while Djokovic prevailed in their Olympic final in Paris last summer - an achievement he considers his greatest in sports. During the match against Lehecka, the crowd's reaction turned negative as the Czech player showed potential to extend the match to a fourth set. Following his victory, Djokovic departed Rod Laver Arena promptly, offering brief remarks: "Thank you very much for being here tonight. I appreciate your support […]

A packed John Cain Arena witnessed Nick Kyrgios's return to Grand Slam tennis end in disappointment as British player Jacob Fearnley defeated the injured Australian favorite in straight sets during the Australian Open's first round. Kyrgios, playing his first match at Melbourne Park in three years, struggled with an abdominal strain throughout the contest, ultimately falling 7-6(3), 6-3, 7-6(2). The injury visibly impacted his serving ability and movement on court. Following the match, Kyrgios, who has missed most of the past two seasons due to knee issues and wrist surgery, suggested this might have been his final singles appearance at Melbourne Park. "I went out there, I would say 65 percent of my capacity," he reflected post-match, expressing gratitude for the crowd's support while acknowledging his extensive dedication to tennis. Meanwhile, the tournament's top seeds advanced to the second round, […]

World number one and defending champion Jannik Sinner made a successful return to the Australian Open with a straight-sets victory, expressing satisfaction with the crowd's reception amid his ongoing doping case. Sinner, who won his maiden major title in Melbourne last year, secured a 7-6 (7-2) 7-6 (7-5) 6-1 win over Chile's Nicolas Jarry in his first appearance at the tournament since failing two doping tests in March. The 23-year-old Italian, who faces a Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) hearing in April, acknowledged his uncertainty about the crowd's response: "I was curious to see how it was. You never know what's happening," Sinner said of the reception on Rod Laver Arena. "I was happy about the crowd. It was a very nice crowd. There were some for my opponent and some for me. It was a nice atmosphere." While […]