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☆ Australian Open draw 2025: Novak Djokovic gets a tough run, Coco Gauff leads U.S. matchups
▼ + stars: | 2025-01-09 | by ( Matthew Futterman | Charlie Eccleshare | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +17 min

Holger Rune, an enigma at this point, is the highest seed in Sinner’s quarter; Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic wouldn’t come around until a final. Aryna Sabalenka suffered the same fate as Coco Gauff, drawing a former Grand Slam champion. Draw day at the Australian Open was not a great one for American tennis fans. The 10-time Australian Open champion would then be seeded to face another Czech, Jiri Lehecka, or three-time major semifinalist Grigor Dimitrov. The prize for the winner of this little cluster of potentially lethal players is a slated fourth round against Gauff.

Persons: Matthew Futterman, Charlie Eccleshare, shouldn’t, Nicolas Jarry of, Jarry, He’s, Holger Rune, Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic wouldn’t, Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, Sloane Stephens, Sabalenka, Stephens, Anna Kalinskaya, there’s, Don’t, Linda Noskova, Iga, Andreeva, Diana Shnaider, Zheng Qinwen, Gauff, Sofia Kenin, Kenin, she’s, Naomi Osaka, Jelena Ostapenko, Karolina Muchova, Leylah Fernandez, Belinda Bencic, Daniel Pockett, Emma Navarro, She’s, Peyton Stearns, Ben Shelton, Brandon Nakashima, Madison Keys, Ann Li, Taylor Fritz, Jenson Brooksby, Fritz, Frances Tiafoe, Shelton, Nakashima, he’d, Alcaraz, — Matthew Futterman, Matt Futterman’s, Caroline Garcia, Naomi Osaka Nick Kyrgios, Jacob Fearnley Emma Navarro, Peyton Stearns Joao Fonseca, Andrey Rublev, Novak Djokovic, Djokovic, Nishesh Basavareddy, Pavel Kotov, Mark Kolbe, Tomas Machac, Reilly Opelka, Jiri Lehecka, Grigor Dimitrov, Sinner, Andy Murray, Novak, Alexander Zverev, Iga Swiatek, Tommy Paul, Arthur Fils, Ugo Humbert, it’s, Cameron Spencer, Naomi Osaka’s, Muchova, Emma Navarro —, Garcia, Charlie Eccleshare Charlie Eccleshare’s, Monfils, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, Marie Bouzkova, Mirra Andreeva, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Alex Michelsen, … James Hansen’s, Yulia Putintseva, Elina Avanesyan Alexei Popyrin, Corentin, S., J, Fett, 🇷, H., 🇮 V. E rj, Lam, J., M. C, N., l, 🇸, Li 🇷, ina 🇷 🇴, P., kari 🇰 🇿, 🇸 C., E. R, . . . ., . . . . ., . . ., mano, A., lev 🇧🇷 J. Fonseca, elli 🇺 🇸, redd, 🇳, Vuk, Thompson, uud 🇪 🇸 J., Nishikori, 🇧 H., Walton 🇫, inez 🇮 🇹, eri, . . . . . . . . Organizations: —, Miami, Sofia, Wimbledon, WTA, Australian, U.S, NCAA, Tennis, Getty, United Cup, Muchova, Osaka, U.S ., Olympic, Gauff, ub Locations: Melbourne, Nicolas Jarry of Chile, Buenos Aires, Rome, Sinner’s, Sabalenka’s, Kenin, Osaka, Ostapenko, USA, American, Brisbane, Czech, New York

☆ Danielle Collins postpones retirement and will return to WTA Tour in 2025
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-18 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

9 Danielle Collins has postponed her retirement from the sport and will be back competing on the WTA Tour in 2025. I will be back on tour in 2025. While there are no guarantees in life, I hope to build on my 2024 momentum and keep playing until there is more certainty around my personal fertility journey. Collins has lost in the opening round of the three tournaments she has played since losing in the quarterfinals of the Paris Olympics, including her home US Open. Collins last played at the Guadalajara Open in September but has been named in the USA’s United Cup team starting on December 27.

Persons: Danielle Collins, Collins, ”, I’ve, ” Collins, Iga, –, Caroline Dolehide, Ben Stiller’s ‘, Gaylord ‘ Greg ’ Focker Organizations: CNN, WTA, American, Miami, Charleston, Paris, United Locations: Flushing Meadows, Guadalajara

☆ Sabalenka, Rybakina to open new season in Brisbane
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Tennis - WTA Finals - Cancun, Mexico - November 5, 2023 Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka in action during her semi final match against Poland's Iga Swiatek REUTERS/Henry Romero Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Nov 28 (Reuters) - World number two Aryna Sabalenka and number four Elena Rybakina will open their 2024 seasons at the Brisbane International warm-up for the Australian Open, organisers said on Tuesday. The 25-year-old will join her fellow Belarusian and twice Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka in the 48-player Brisbane field as she prepares for her first Grand Slam title defence at Melbourne Park. "Australia holds a special place in my heart after winning my first Grand Slam there," Sabalenka said in a news release. "I can't wait to make my debut at the Brisbane International and play in front of the Queensland tennis fans." Russian-born Kazakh Rybakina, the Wimbledon champion in 2022, lost to Sabalenka in this year's Melbourne final.

Persons: Poland's Iga Swiatek, Henry Romero, Elena Rybakina, Naomi Osaka, Sabalenka, Nick Mulvenney, Peter Rutherford Organizations: Poland's Iga Swiatek REUTERS, Rights, Brisbane International, WTA, United, Victoria Azarenka, Brisbane, Melbourne, Queensland tennis, Wimbledon, Thomson Locations: Cancun, Mexico, Belarus, Perth, Sydney, Russia, Ukraine, Australia, Kazakh

☆ Brisbane International to return as Australian Open tune-up event
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Sept 15 (Reuters) - The Brisbane International will return to the calendar for the first time since 2020 as part of the build-up to next year's Australian Open, Tennis Australia said on Friday. It was dropped from the men's tour when the ATP Cup was introduced in 2019 and last contested as a women's event in 2020. The women's singles field has been expanded to 48 players, while the men's singles draw will feature 32. "The players love to come here, they love the atmosphere," Barty told Australian media. The Canberra International starts alongside the Brisbane event two days later, with tournaments in Adelaide and Hobart beginning on Jan. 8.

Persons: Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Andy Murray, Maria Sharapova, Ash Barty, Barty, Hritika Sharma, Peter Rutherford Organizations: Brisbane International, Tennis Australia, ATP, WTA, Queensland Tennis Centre, United, Canberra International, Hobart, Thomson Locations: Perth, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Hyderabad

☆ Alcaraz signs up for relaunched Hopman Cup
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Feb 28 (Reuters) - World number two Carlos Alcaraz will headline the Hopman Cup as the relaunched mixed-gender team event returns to the tennis calendar after a four-year absence in June. The 19-year-old Alcaraz will be part of the Spain team, one of three confirmed by the International Tennis Federation on Tuesday, alongside Paula Badosa. "Alongside the Billie Jean King Cup and Davis Cup, the Hopman Cup is another ITF event that gives players the opportunity to represent their countries, and compete for something bigger than themselves," ITF President David Haggerty said at a news conference. The last edition of the competition, which began in 1989 and was named after Australian great Harry Hopman, saw Roger Federer lead Switzerland to the title against Germany. The Hopman Cup has a rival in the United Cup mixed-gender team event, featuring 18 nations playing matches across three Australian cities, taking place before this year's Australian Open.

☆ Swiatek says WTA must grow and continue push for pay equality
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WTA Tour events, however, still often offer less prize money than those on the men's tour which operates its own circuit. "For sure, I'd like to see the WTA expanding business-wise, getting more popular, cutting the difference between WTA and ATP in terms of prize money and attracting fans," Swiatek told reporters in Dubai. There's something you can find in women's tennis that you're not going to find on the ATP," Swiatek said. American Jessica Pegula, the world number three and a member of the WTA player council, echoed Swiatek. "I hope we can keep pushing for equal prize money at all events, being on TV more," Pegula said.

☆ American players pushing each other to improve, says Gauff
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Jan 20 (Reuters) - Coco Gauff said the camaraderie and desire among American players to improve collectively is the driving force behind their impressive showing at this year's Australian Open. Gauff, who beat compatriot Bernarda Pera 6-3 6-2 on Friday, is among a number of American women to have made it to the third round, but Danielle Collins and Madison Keys were eliminated. I think that's what the men are having... I'm pretty sure all the American guys get along, at least that's what I think." Gauff added that the men's and women's players had forged a strong relationship that extended beyond tennis.

☆ 'Locked in' Tiafoe leading American charge at Australian Open
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

When asked about the mantra, Tiafoe told reporters: "It's the whole thing with the United Cup guys, just staying locked in. I made a joke about it with the guys (at) the United Cup asking them before the match, 'Are you locked?' "The locked thing, honestly, I've been kind of living by that for a little bit. I think you've seen the shift in myself in being just locked in everything you're doing, staying super present, staying in the moment, staying locked in. So then it became a thing where if Frances can lock, everyone has got to lock."

☆ Nadal survives early test, Kyrgios pulls out in Australian Open shock
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-16 | by ( Ian Ransom | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

With Draper's injury reducing him to a groaning wreck, Nadal finished strongly to close out the match 7-5 2-6 6-4 6-1. With Kyrgios gone and last year's women's champion Ash Barty retired, the chances of a another home winner for local fans are greatly diminished. Seventh seed Coco Gauff also raced into the second round, while last year's finalist Danielle Collins advanced with a tougher, three-set win over Anna Kalinskaya. Briton Raducanu will next face teenager Gauff, who won in Auckland and confirmed her good form with a 6-1 6-4 win over Katerina Siniakova. Italian 15th seed Jannik Sinner, a quarter-finalist last year, was the first man to reach the second round, rolling over Briton Kyle Edmund 6-4 6-0 6-2 on John Cain Arena.

☆ Nadal shrugs off rocky buildup to Australian Open defence
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-14 | by ( Ian Ransom | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MELBOURNE, Jan 14 (Reuters) - An upbeat Rafa Nadal has shrugged off his warm-up defeats ahead of the Australian Open as "just part of the business" and declared himself in a happy place ahead of his title defence. Nadal heads into a first-round match against rising Briton Jack Draper undercooked and with only one win since September's U.S. Open. Nadal arrived at Melbourne Park last year in a funk after a serious foot injury but ended up winning his second Australian Open crown by beating Russian Daniil Medvedev in a classic final. Last year's French Open winner, Nadal won two of the four Grand Slams, with fellow great Novak Djokovic winning Wimbledon. World number one Carlos Alcaraz, who is not playing at the Australian Open due to injury, was the only player to break the Nadal-Djokovic duopoly by claiming the U.S. Open.

☆ Kyrgios braces for pressure as home favourite at Australian Open
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-14 | by ( Ian Ransom | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MELBOURNE, Jan 14 (Reuters) - With Ash Barty enjoying a comfortable retirement, Nick Kyrgios will be far and away the top drawcard for home fans at the Australian Open, feeling both privilege and pressure to meet expectations after his best season in 2022. "I walked in here at the Australian Open maybe eight, nine years ago as a wild card. 'How are you feeling about Australian Open? Though having not completed a tour match since October, Kyrgios has still managed to hog the limelight in the leadup to Melbourne Park. But the pair have become much closer since Kyrgios defended Djokovic during his deportation ordeal in the run-up to last year's Australian Open.

☆ Swiatek the favourite as Melbourne Park set for new champion
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

MELBOURNE, Jan 13 (Reuters) - Iga Swiatek is the strong favourite to land her fourth Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, but the picture is considerably less clear if the world number one fails to live up to her top seeding. DIFFERENT PROPOSITIONSwiatek was thrashed 6-4 6-1 by Danielle Collins at Melbourne Park last year in her first hardcourt Grand Slam semi-final, and the American looms this year in the last 16 if the seedings hold. Charismatic American teenager Coco Gauff would be a popular champion, not least in the Australian Open marketing department. Last year's French Open finalist is in form, having opened the season with the title at the Auckland Open. Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina's big serve gives her a chance of a second Grand Slam title, while world number four Caroline Garcia is enjoying a late-career renaissance and won the WTA Finals on hardcourt last year.

☆ Undercooked Nadal targets number 23 at Melbourne Park
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Nick Mulvenney | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"I need to win matches for sure, but the preparation is going quite well, practising a lot and I think I am in good shape. "But I'm confident that if I am able to have this last week of positive practices, why not?" As world number two, Nadal will be top seed on his 18th trip to the Australian Open after the injury withdrawal of his young compatriot Carlos Alcaraz. He followed that up with a 14th French Open title and could forge even further ahead of Novak Djokovic (21) and the now retired Roger Federer (20) in the Grand Slam title race with a third triumph on Melbourne's famous blue courts. Reporting by Nick Mulvenney in Sydney, editing by Bradley PerrettOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ All eyes on American Pegula after breakout year
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MELBOURNE, Jan 12 (Reuters) - A career breakthrough year has all eyes on American Jessica Pegula, who could shake Polish world number one Iga Swiatek's stranglehold on the women's field when the Australian Open main draw begins next week. Now number three in the world, Pegula said she's taking this season one step at a time. "I don't think I really am putting pressure on myself to duplicate that year because I think it was very special and something that probably won't be duplicated," Pegula told reporters on Sunday. 1 player," said Patrick McEnroe, the brother of John McEnroe and a former doubles Grand Slam winner who is an analyst for ESPN. He told reporters that he believes Pegula could possibly even win in Melbourne - if Australia's iconic blue hard courts are playing to her favour.

☆ 'One of the best', Kyrgios ready for tilt at Australian Open title
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Nick Mulvenney | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Tennis great and compatriot Rod Laver said after the U.S. Open that only self-belief was preventing Kyrgios from joining the Grand Slam winners' club. "I'm definitely going to go into any tournament, the Australian Open, with confidence, and I think I've proven I can go deep at a Grand Slam. 47-YEAR DROUGHTHis best run at his home major was seven years ago when he reached the quarter-finals, with fourth-round appearances in 2018 and 2020 his other ventures into the second week of the Australian Open. Ash Barty last year rode a tidal wave of support to end the long wait for a homegrown singles champion at the Australian Open - a drought that stands at 47 years for the men's title. Unlike the now-retired three-times Grand Slam champion, Kyrgios has not always been popular with all of his compatriots as a result of his frequent clashes with officialdom and fans.

☆ 'Frenemies' Djokovic and Kyrgios to play practice match before Australian Open
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/3] Serbia's Novak Djokovic poses with the trophy after winning the Wimbledon men's singles final alongside runner up Australia's Nick Kyrgios, July 2022. REUTERS/Toby MelvilleJan 9 (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios will rekindle their bromance by playing a practice match before the Australian Open, giving the latter a chance to stretch his legs before the year's first Grand Slam. Australian Open organisers said "tennis' most famous frenemies" will play each other at Rod Laver Arena on Friday. Djokovic had said last week that he had discussed playing a practice match with Kyrgios, adding that the Australian wanted shorter sets. The pair were once at loggerheads and had a frosty relationship when Kyrgios labelled Djokovic "boneheaded" and a "tool".

☆ Kvitova takes her chances to down Rybakina in Adelaide
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

ADELAIDE, Jan 9 (Reuters) - Former Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova ousted the current holder of the All England Club title Elena Rybakina 6-3 7-5 in the opening round of the Adelaide International 2 on Monday to continue her winning start in the new season. The second set of the contest was just as tight with no break points until the 11th game when Kvitova earned two and converted the second for a 6-5 lead with a blistering forehand return. "I was trying to wait for my chance to see if I could break her," said the world number 16. The top three women in the world were all late withdrawals from the second Adelaide tournament with Pegula citing a change of schedule and Iga Swiatek (shoulder) and Ons Jabeur (back) both nursing injuries. The other women's warm-up for the Australian Open this week is the Hobart Open, which returns after a two-year hiatus caused by the COVID pandemic.

☆ Fritz delivers as U.S. win inaugural United Cup crown
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/5] Tennis - United Cup - Ken Rosewall Arena, Sydney, Australia - January 8, 2023 Taylor Fritz of the U.S. reacts during his match in the final against Italy's Matteo Berrettini REUTERS/Asanka Brendon RatnayakeSYDNEY, Jan 8 (Reuters) - Taylor Fritz edged Matteo Berrettini 7-6(4) 7-6(6) as the United States justified their status as favourites to outclass Italy in a one-sided final at the inaugural United Cup mixed team tournament on Sunday. It's amazing for the team to win this event. We came in with really high hopes, or at least I did," Fritz said. SHOULDER INJURYA shoulder injury forced the 20-year-old Musetti to concede to Tiafoe after his first serve of the second set. The Americans top the table with most titles in the Davis Cup (32), Billie Jean King Cup (18) and Hopman Cup (6).

☆ United States blank Poland to reach United Cup final
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

I had no doubt that if I were to lose that the rest of the team would have come through," Fritz said. I think it's a huge advantage this time having the girls on our team because it just makes the whole team so much stronger. "I'm super excited going into the final and I think we've been the favourites all week." Italy lead their semi-final against Greece 2-0 after Martina Trevisan and Lorenzo Musetti won their matches on Friday. Matteo Berrettini can book their place in the final with a victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas in the evening session.

☆ Pegula swats aside Swiatek in United Cup semis
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SYDNEY, Jan 6 (Reuters) - Jessica Pegula gave the United States the perfect start to their United Cup semi-final against Poland with a 6-2 6-2 victory over world number one Iga Swiatek in the opening singles rubber on Friday. Swiatek was only able to hold her serve once in the first set as Pegula raced out to a 5-0 lead and the American world number three kept up the pressure with some brilliant returns in the second set. Pegula secured a dominant victory that will also give her a personal boost heading into this month's Australian Open when Swiatek sent a forehand wide after little more than an hour on Ken Rosewall Arena. "I thought I did a really good job playing really aggressive, serving smart and returning really well," said Pegula, who had lost her previous four matches against Swiatek. Reporting by Nick Mulvenney, editing by Robert BirselOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Kyrgios expected to be fit for Australian Open despite latest withdrawal
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Jan 5 (Reuters) - Nick Kyrgios is expected to be fit to play at the Australian Open despite pulling out of a second warm-up tournament following his withdrawal from next week's Adelaide International with an ankle injury, his manager told Australian media. "We are very excited and working every day to make sure we're ready for the Australian Open," Kyrgios's manager Daniel Horsfall told Australian media. "A lot of people were upset after he pulled out of the United Cup, but I hope they now realise the injury is genuine. "The Adelaide International wishes Nick Kyrgios the best of luck and a quick recovery, understanding the importance of the Australian Open preparation." Kyrgios' withdrawal came after the 27-year-old, who won the men's doubles title at last year's Australian Open, was involved in a public spat with United Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt over his absence from the mixed team competition.

☆ Barty to mentor local wildcard Gadecki at Australian Open
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Jan 4 (Reuters) - Retired Australian Open champion Ash Barty is returning to Melbourne Park for this year's event to mentor local hope Olivia Gadecki, who received a wildcard for the season's first Grand Slam. Former world number one Barty called time on her career last March, shortly after ending her country's 44-year wait for a home champion at the Australian Open. World number 202 Gadecki said at the United Cup in Sydney that Barty would be in her camp at Melbourne Park for the Jan. 16-29 tournament. The 20-year-old will begin her Australian Open preparations at next week's Hobart International. Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter RutherfordOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Berrettini inspires Italy to big victory in United Cup
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

In a rematch of their U.S. Open quarter-final and Gstaad final, where world number three Ruud prevailed last year, it was Berrettini who took control of the match on the back of his powerful serve to seal a 6-4 6-4 Group E win. I knew I had to serve my best," Berrettini, who fired 10 aces and won 88% of points on his first-serve, said. The fourth semi-finalist will be a runner-up with the best record from their three matches in the $15 million event. World number 10 Hubert Hurkacz earlier beat Swiss veteran Stan Wawrinka 7-6(5) 6-4 to send Poland on their way. Maria Sakkari earned Greece a spot in the Perth final from Group A with a 6-1 7-5 win over Belgium's Elise Mertens.

☆ Nadal calls for United Cup format tweaks to avoid dead rubbers
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SYDNEY, Jan 3 (Reuters) - Rafa Nadal likes the United Cup concept but says the mixed team tournament's format should be changed to ensure there were fewer dead rubbers going forward. "The competition's great, idea is great," said Nadal, who next heads to Melbourne for his Australian Open title defence. After Britain clinched a 3-1 win over Spain in their opener, Nadal skipped the mixed doubles rubber. "I don't think it's good for the competition that we're playing Australia, both of us being out of the tournament. The inaugural edition of the United Cup is being played in Sydney, Perth and Brisbane.

Summary Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest after a hitNo decision on rescheduling gameBengals leading 7-3 when game haltedJan 3 (Reuters) - Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin was in critical condition after suffering a cardiac arrest during Monday's National Football League (NFL) game against Cincinnati. "Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest following a hit in our game versus the Bengals," the Bills said in a statement. The game was suspended with suspended in the first quarter after Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin (3) was taken away in an ambulance following a play. Mandatory Credit: Sam Greene-USA TODAY Sports'PLEASE BE OK'The NFL Players Association also said Hamlin's health was the number one priority. "We have been in touch with the Bills and Bengals players, and with the NFL," it said.

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