Third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime tumbled out of the US Open on Thursday as former champions Iga Swiatek, Naomi Osaka and Coco Gauff reached the third round. Karen Khachanov, ranked 50th in the world, downed Auger-Aliassime 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 6-2, 6-2, pulling away relentlessly from the physically ailing Canadian who said he was "dizzy and seeing spots."I thought maybe it would pass, but it didn't," a dejected Auger-Aliassime said.Khachanov took full advantage of 47 unforced errors, with eight double faults, from Auger-Aliassime, who struggled particularly on serve.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/us-open-2026-carlos-alcaraz-aryna-sabalenka-advance-into-third-round-after-contrasting-wins-1788431134881">US Open 2026: Carlos Alcaraz, Aryna Sabalenka advance into third round after contrasting wins</a>"I thought maybe he had some physical issues, it's part of our sport," Khachanov said. "From my side I tried to give my best performance, fighting, fighting."I'm super happy to get this win," added the 2022 semi-finalist after posting his first top-10 win of the year.It was the second big upset on the men's side, after Novak Djokovic was ousted in the first round.Sixth-seeded Australian Alex de Minaur also bowed out, falling to Botic van de Zandschulp 6-4, 7-5, 6-2 to further open up a men's field headed by world number two Alexander Zverev.French Open champion Zverev anchored the night session on Arthur Ashe Stadium, taking on 52nd-ranked Frenchman Quentin Halys.Meanwhile three former women's champions -- Swiatek, Gauff and Osaka, booked their third-round berths.Gauff thrilled the Ashe night crowd with a 6-4, 7-6 (7/5) victory over former world number two Paula Badosa of Spain.Swiatek marched through with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Nadia Podoroska while Osaka survived a second-set swoon to beat Katerina Siniakova 6-2, 5-7, 6-1.Gauff, 22, had lost five of her eight prior meetings with Badosa, so she was ready when the Spaniard piled on the pressure in the second set, regaining a break to force the tiebreaker."I knew she would raise her level. She's capable of blasting winners and blasting return winners," said Gauff, who was pleased she kept her composure."I think I need matches like this to build my confidence," the 2023 US Open winner said.Swiatek, whose six Grand Slam titles include the 2022 US Open, had things mostly her own way against Podroska, a former top-40 player now sunk to 449th in the world.She fought off four break points at 5-3 in the first set then pulled away to polish off the win in little more than an hour.It was another encouraging performance for the former world number one, who hadn't reached a final in 2026 until her run to the title at Toronto in August.<h2>Osaka fights</h2>Japan's Osaka, who counts two US Open titles among her four major trophies, looked in total control against Siniakova as she raced through the first set and to a 4-2 lead in the second without facing a break point.But the Japanese star's unforced errors began to pile up and doubles world number one Siniakova pounced to climb from 5-3 down and take the set.Osaka regrouped in the decider, riding a quick break to a 3-0 lead and fending off a pair of break points on the way to victory."I just felt like I had to fight," she said.So did former Australian Open champion Madison Keys, who saved five match points as she rallied from 5-2 down in the third set to beat Anna Bondar 4-7, 6-4, 7-6 (10/5).In other early matches, reigning French Open champion Mirra Andreeva, seeded fifth, rolled over Germany's Eva Lys 6-0, 6-2.Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina was in action later, taking on Spain's Jessica Bouzas.Generations collided on Louis Armstrong Stadium, where 20-year-old American Learner Tien ended 40-year-old Gael Monfils's Grand Slam career with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 victory.Monfils felt the love in New York, where he made his US Open debut in 2005, chants of "Monfils" erupting frequently and intensifying in the third set."It's been a long ride," Monfils said. "You are my second best crowd. Of course, it can't top Paris, but you are up there!"

Sixth-seeded Australian Alex de Minaur also bowed out, falling to Botic van de Zandschulp 6-4, 7-5, 6-2 to further open up a men's field headed by world number two Alexander Zverev.

Third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime tumbled out of the US Open on Thursday as former champions Iga Swiatek, Naomi Osaka and Coco Gauff reached the third round. Karen Khachanov, ranked 50th in the world, downed Auger-Aliassime 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 6-2, 6-2, pulling away relentlessly from the physically ailing Canadian who said he was "dizzy and seeing spots. "I thought maybe it would pass, but it didn't," a dejected Auger-Aliassime said. Khachanov took full advantage of 47 unforced errors, with eight double faults, from Auger-Aliassime, who struggled particularly on serve. Also Read - US Open 2026: Carlos Alcaraz, Aryna Sabalenka advance into third round after contrasting wins "I thought maybe he had some physical issues, it's part of our sport," Khachanov said. "From my side I tried to give my best performance, fighting, fighting. "I'm super happy to get this win," added the 2022 semi-finalist after posting his first top-10 win of the year. It was the second big upset on the men's side, after Novak Djokovic was ousted in the first round. Sixth-seeded Australian Alex de Minaur also bowed out, falling to Botic van de Zandschulp 6-4, 7-5, 6-2 to further open up a men's field headed by world number two Alexander Zverev. French Open champion Zverev anchored the night session on Arthur Ashe Stadium, taking on 52nd-ranked Frenchman Quentin Halys. Meanwhile three former women's champions -- Swiatek, Gauff and Osaka, booked their third-round berths. Gauff thrilled the Ashe night crowd with a 6-4, 7-6 (7/5) victory over former world number two Paula Badosa of Spain. Swiatek marched through with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Nadia Podoroska while Osaka survived a second-set swoon to beat Katerina Siniakova 6-2, 5-7, 6-1. Gauff, 22, had lost five of her eight prior meetings with Badosa, so she was ready when the Spaniard piled on the pressure in the second set, regaining a break to force the tiebreaker. "I knew she would raise her level. She's capable of blasting winners and blasting return winners," said Gauff, who was pleased she kept her composure. "I think I need matches like this to build my confidence," the 2023 US Open winner said. Swiatek, whose six Grand Slam titles include the 2022 US Open, had things mostly her own way against Podroska, a former top-40 player now sunk to 449th in the world. She fought off four break points at 5-3 in the first set then pulled away to polish off the win in little more than an hour. It was another encouraging performance for the former world number one, who hadn't reached a final in 2026 until her run to the title at Toronto in August. Osaka fights Japan's Osaka, who counts two US Open titles among her four major trophies, looked in total control against Siniakova as she raced through the first set and to a 4-2 lead in the second without facing a break point. But the Japanese star's unforced errors began to pile up and doubles world number one Siniakova pounced to climb from 5-3 down and take the set. Osaka regrouped in the decider, riding a quick break to a 3-0 lead and fending off a pair of break points on the way to victory. "I just felt like I had to fight," she said. So did former Australian Open champion Madison Keys, who saved five match points as she rallied from 5-2 down in the third set to beat Anna Bondar 4-7, 6-4, 7-6 (10/5). In other early matches, reigning French Open champion Mirra Andreeva, seeded fifth, rolled over Germany's Eva Lys 6-0, 6-2. Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina was in action later, taking on Spain's Jessica Bouzas. Generations collided on Louis Armstrong Stadium, where 20-year-old American Learner Tien ended 40-year-old Gael Monfils's Grand Slam career with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 victory. Monfils felt the love in New York, where he made his US Open debut in 2005, chants of "Monfils" erupting frequently and intensifying in the third set. "It's been a long ride," Monfils said. "You are my second best crowd. Of course, it can't top Paris, but you are up there!"

Sixth-seeded Australian Alex de Minaur also bowed out, falling to Botic van de Zandschulp 6-4, 7-5, 6-2 to further open up a men's field headed by world number two Alexander Zverev.

US Open 2026: Auger-Aliassime out but Swiatek, Osaka, and Gauff advance into third round

Poland’s six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek won her first title of the 2026 season after beating World No. 2 Elena Rybakina 6-2, 6-3 in the Canadian Open final in Toronto on Thursday, according to Olympics.com. Swiatek made a confident start against the reigning Australian Open champion and converted both of her break-point chances while saving both break opportunities created by Rybakina.&nbsp;The Polish World No. 8 remained in control in the second set and did not face a single break point and converted two of her three chances to finish the match in just 75 minutes.&nbsp;“I want to dedicate this title to everyone who is dealing with unfair judgement and hate,” Swiatek, the Paris 2024 women’s singles bronze medallist, said after the match, as quoted by Olympics.com.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-sl-india-bowling-coach-morkel-isn-t-worried-about-pacers-skills-but-heat-humidity-and-kookaburra-ball-1786689411651">IND vs SL: India coach Morkel worried about 'heat, humidity, &amp; Kookaburra ball'</a>&nbsp;The win also gave Swiatek a 7-6 advantage over Rybakina in their WTA Tour head-to-head record, ending her two-match losing streak against the Kazakh player.&nbsp;“Just keep pushing, keep growing, keep focusing on yourself because you know what’s best for you. And always remember what’s ahead and what might be possible,” she added.&nbsp;The Toronto triumph was Swiatek’s 12th WTA 1000 title. She moved past Aryna Sabalenka, who has 11, for the second-most WTA 1000 titles since the format began in 2009. Only Serena Williams, with 13 titles, is ahead of her.&nbsp;This was the second time Swiatek and Rybakina had met in a final, with Swiatek winning both encounters in straight sets. The victory also improved Swiatek’s record in WTA finals to 26-5, giving her the best winning percentage among players who have appeared in at least 20 WTA-level finals since the Tier format began in 1990.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/aus-vs-ban-1st-test-day-2-tanzid-stars-as-bangladesh-dominate-australia-1786700416628">AUS vs BAN, 1st Test Day 2: Tanzid stars as Bangladesh dominate Australia</a>&nbsp;Swiatek began her Toronto campaign with a bagel and lost only six games in her opening two matches. She then fought back to beat Marta Kostyuk in the Round of 16 before producing another dominant performance against Diana Shnaider, winning 6-1, 6-2 in the quarterfinals.&nbsp;In the semifinals, Swiatek defeated Elina Svitolina in three sets to reach the final, avenging her two three-set defeats to the Ukrainian earlier this season.&nbsp;&nbsp;With inputs from agencies

Iga Swiatek defeated Elena Rybakina 6-2, 6-3 in the National Bank Open final in Toronto to claim her first WTA Tour title of 2026 and 26th career title.

Poland’s six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek won her first title of the 2026 season after beating World No. 2 Elena Rybakina 6-2, 6-3 in the Canadian Open final in Toronto on Thursday, according to Olympics.com. Swiatek made a confident start against the reigning Australian Open champion and converted both of her break-point chances while saving both break opportunities created by Rybakina. The Polish World No. 8 remained in control in the second set and did not face a single break point and converted two of her three chances to finish the match in just 75 minutes. “I want to dedicate this title to everyone who is dealing with unfair judgement and hate,” Swiatek, the Paris 2024 women’s singles bronze medallist, said after the match, as quoted by Olympics.com. Also Read - IND vs SL: India coach Morkel worried about 'heat, humidity, & Kookaburra ball' The win also gave Swiatek a 7-6 advantage over Rybakina in their WTA Tour head-to-head record, ending her two-match losing streak against the Kazakh player. “Just keep pushing, keep growing, keep focusing on yourself because you know what’s best for you. And always remember what’s ahead and what might be possible,” she added. The Toronto triumph was Swiatek’s 12th WTA 1000 title. She moved past Aryna Sabalenka, who has 11, for the second-most WTA 1000 titles since the format began in 2009. Only Serena Williams, with 13 titles, is ahead of her. This was the second time Swiatek and Rybakina had met in a final, with Swiatek winning both encounters in straight sets. The victory also improved Swiatek’s record in WTA finals to 26-5, giving her the best winning percentage among players who have appeared in at least 20 WTA-level finals since the Tier format began in 1990. Also Read - AUS vs BAN, 1st Test Day 2: Tanzid stars as Bangladesh dominate Australia Swiatek began her Toronto campaign with a bagel and lost only six games in her opening two matches. She then fought back to beat Marta Kostyuk in the Round of 16 before producing another dominant performance against Diana Shnaider, winning 6-1, 6-2 in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, Swiatek defeated Elina Svitolina in three sets to reach the final, avenging her two three-set defeats to the Ukrainian earlier this season. With inputs from agencies

Iga Swiatek defeated Elena Rybakina 6-2, 6-3 in the National Bank Open final in Toronto to claim her first WTA Tour title of 2026 and 26th career title.

Canadian Open: Iga Swiatek wins first title of 2026, beats Rybakina in final

Defending champion Iga Swiatek bounced back from a slow start to her Wimbledon 2026 campaign with a convincing 6-1, 6-3 win over former world No. 1 Karolina Pliskova in the second round on Thursday (Jul 2). After needing three sets to beat Taylor Townsend in her opening match, Swiatek played much better on Centre Court. The Polish star took control from the beginning, breaking Pliskova’s serve several times with her powerful game and never allowing the Czech player to settle.&nbsp;Pliskova put up a better fight in the second set, but Swiatek stayed in charge with solid serving and consistent shot-making to complete the victory in straight sets.&nbsp;The six-time Grand Slam champion showed the confidence that helped her win the Wimbledon title last year, striking cleanly off both wings and moving well on the grass.&nbsp;With the win, Swiatek moved into the third round, where she will face Filipina player Alexandra Eala, who beat Australia’s Maya Joint.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-wc-2026-spain-vs-austria-r32-when-and-where-to-watch-live-streaming-in-india-1782991699415">FIFA WC 2026, Spain Vs Austria R32: When and where to watch live streaming in India?</a><h3>De Minaur and Fritz advance comfortably</h3>Fifth seed Alex de Minaur also reached the third round with an easy 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 win over France’s Adrian Mannarino.&nbsp;The Australian needed just over 90 minutes to seal the victory, using his speed, strong defence and accurate returning to keep Mannarino under pressure. De Minaur has now reached the third round without losing a set and will next play either Zachary Svajda or Kamil Majchrzak.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-wc-2026-portugal-vs-croatia-r32-when-and-where-to-watch-live-streaming-in-india-1782988567986">FIFA WC 2026, Portugal vs Croatia R32: Where to watch live streaming in India?</a>&nbsp;Sixth seed Taylor Fritz also continued his impressive run with a 6-2, 6-2, 7-5 victory over fellow American Patrick Kypson.&nbsp;Fritz dominated the first two sets with his powerful serve and attacking game. Kypson made the third set more competitive and levelled at 4-4, but Fritz responded by earning a crucial break before serving out the match.&nbsp;Fritz will face either Gabriel Diallo or Lorenzo Sonego in the third round as he looks to reach the last 16.

Defending champion Iga Swiatek reached the Wimbledon third round with a straight-sets win over Karolina Pliskova, while Taylor Fritz and Alex de Minaur also progressed with convincing victories.

Defending champion Iga Swiatek bounced back from a slow start to her Wimbledon 2026 campaign with a convincing 6-1, 6-3 win over former world No. 1 Karolina Pliskova in the second round on Thursday (Jul 2). After needing three sets to beat Taylor Townsend in her opening match, Swiatek played much better on Centre Court. The Polish star took control from the beginning, breaking Pliskova’s serve several times with her powerful game and never allowing the Czech player to settle. Pliskova put up a better fight in the second set, but Swiatek stayed in charge with solid serving and consistent shot-making to complete the victory in straight sets. The six-time Grand Slam champion showed the confidence that helped her win the Wimbledon title last year, striking cleanly off both wings and moving well on the grass. With the win, Swiatek moved into the third round, where she will face Filipina player Alexandra Eala, who beat Australia’s Maya Joint. Also Read - FIFA WC 2026, Spain Vs Austria R32: When and where to watch live streaming in India? De Minaur and Fritz advance comfortably Fifth seed Alex de Minaur also reached the third round with an easy 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 win over France’s Adrian Mannarino. The Australian needed just over 90 minutes to seal the victory, using his speed, strong defence and accurate returning to keep Mannarino under pressure. De Minaur has now reached the third round without losing a set and will next play either Zachary Svajda or Kamil Majchrzak. Also Read - FIFA WC 2026, Portugal vs Croatia R32: Where to watch live streaming in India? Sixth seed Taylor Fritz also continued his impressive run with a 6-2, 6-2, 7-5 victory over fellow American Patrick Kypson. Fritz dominated the first two sets with his powerful serve and attacking game. Kypson made the third set more competitive and levelled at 4-4, but Fritz responded by earning a crucial break before serving out the match. Fritz will face either Gabriel Diallo or Lorenzo Sonego in the third round as he looks to reach the last 16.

Defending champion Iga Swiatek reached the Wimbledon third round with a straight-sets win over Karolina Pliskova, while Taylor Fritz and Alex de Minaur also progressed with convincing victories.

Wimbledon 2026: Swiatek powers into Round 3; Fritz, De Minaur maintain perfect starts

Defending champion Iga Swiatek survived a major opening-round scare at Wimbledon, overcoming American world number 79 Taylor Townsend 6-1, 2-6, 6-3 to book her place in the second round. The world number three looked in complete control after cruising through the opening set but struggled to maintain her momentum as Townsend's aggressive shot-making turned the contest around in the second set. Swiatek found herself in danger of becoming only the third reigning women's Wimbledon champion in the Open era to suffer a first-round exit.<h2>Can Swiatek build momentum after a nervy Wimbledon start?</h2>The deciding set proved to be a stern test of Swiatek's composure. A marathon opening game lasting 21 minutes set the tone before the Polish star secured the crucial service breaks needed to seal victory. After converting match point, an emotional Swiatek covered her face with a towel as relief washed over Centre Court. The six-time Grand Slam champion is aiming to rediscover her best form after failing to reach the semi-finals in each of her last three major appearances since lifting the Wimbledon trophy.&nbsp;Townsend's fearless power-hitting repeatedly troubled Swiatek, but the American was unable to produce the upset. The 30-year-old remains without a Wimbledon appearance beyond the second round. "It was a tough couple of weeks. A season when not everything went how I wanted. I don't think I won any three-set matches this year, so I'm happy I could do it," Swiatek said. "Obviously it means a lot to be the defending champion here. In the end I kept my composure. I knew I needed to be solid."&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/us-supreme-court-upholds-state-bans-on-transgender-women-in-female-sports-1782828356690">US Supreme Court upholds state bans on transgender women in female sports</a><h2>What waits Swiatek and the other top contenders?</h2>Swiatek will next face 2021 Wimbledon runner-up Karolina Pliskova in the second round as she continues her bid to successfully defend the title. Elsewhere, Alexander Zverev returned to Grand Slam action for the first time since capturing his maiden major title at the French Open. Despite that breakthrough, Wimbledon has traditionally been his most difficult Slam, with the German never progressing beyond the fourth round in nine previous appearances.&nbsp;&nbsp;He opened his campaign against Belgian rising star Alexander Blockx after suffering a first-round exit last year to Arthur Rinderknech. American sixth seed Taylor Fritz, a Wimbledon semi-finalist last year, enjoyed a comfortable straight-sets victory over Dusan Lajovic. Fifth seed Alex de Minaur also advanced with ease after defeating Roman Andres Burruchaga in straight sets.

Defending Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek survived a stern first-round challenge from Taylor Townsend, winning in three sets to reach the second round and set up a clash with Karolina Pliskova

Defending champion Iga Swiatek survived a major opening-round scare at Wimbledon, overcoming American world number 79 Taylor Townsend 6-1, 2-6, 6-3 to book her place in the second round. The world number three looked in complete control after cruising through the opening set but struggled to maintain her momentum as Townsend's aggressive shot-making turned the contest around in the second set. Swiatek found herself in danger of becoming only the third reigning women's Wimbledon champion in the Open era to suffer a first-round exit. Can Swiatek build momentum after a nervy Wimbledon start? The deciding set proved to be a stern test of Swiatek's composure. A marathon opening game lasting 21 minutes set the tone before the Polish star secured the crucial service breaks needed to seal victory. After converting match point, an emotional Swiatek covered her face with a towel as relief washed over Centre Court. The six-time Grand Slam champion is aiming to rediscover her best form after failing to reach the semi-finals in each of her last three major appearances since lifting the Wimbledon trophy. Townsend's fearless power-hitting repeatedly troubled Swiatek, but the American was unable to produce the upset. The 30-year-old remains without a Wimbledon appearance beyond the second round. "It was a tough couple of weeks. A season when not everything went how I wanted. I don't think I won any three-set matches this year, so I'm happy I could do it," Swiatek said. "Obviously it means a lot to be the defending champion here. In the end I kept my composure. I knew I needed to be solid." Also Read: US Supreme Court upholds state bans on transgender women in female sports What waits Swiatek and the other top contenders? Swiatek will next face 2021 Wimbledon runner-up Karolina Pliskova in the second round as she continues her bid to successfully defend the title. Elsewhere, Alexander Zverev returned to Grand Slam action for the first time since capturing his maiden major title at the French Open. Despite that breakthrough, Wimbledon has traditionally been his most difficult Slam, with the German never progressing beyond the fourth round in nine previous appearances. He opened his campaign against Belgian rising star Alexander Blockx after suffering a first-round exit last year to Arthur Rinderknech. American sixth seed Taylor Fritz, a Wimbledon semi-finalist last year, enjoyed a comfortable straight-sets victory over Dusan Lajovic. Fifth seed Alex de Minaur also advanced with ease after defeating Roman Andres Burruchaga in straight sets.

Iga Swiatek overcame Taylor Townsend in three sets to begin her Wimbledon title defence, recovering from a second-set slump to advance

Iga Swiatek survives first-round scare against Taylor Townsend to begin Wimbledon title defence

The Wimbledon 2026, year's third grand slam, is about to start on June 29 in England and a lot of stories waiting to play out with 23-gran slam winner Serena Williams' comeback being the highlight. It was also Serena who had last won the Championship back-to-back in women's singles - 2015 and 2016. It has been nearly a decade since then but not other female player has been able to achieve the same feat. In fact, women's singles have seen a different champion every year since 2017 with 2020 being cancelled due to Covid-19. At this year's championship, Iga Swiatek comes in as the reigning champion but would she be able to defend the crown remains to be seen.WION spoke to former Indian tennis player and JioStar expert Vijay Amritraj during the &nbsp;JioStar Media Day ahead of Wimbledon 2026 about why it is hard to repeat the success at Wimbledon for female players and he said that the "players have been of same level ever since the Williams sisters (Venus and Serena) left."Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wimbledon-2026-draw-djokovic-sinner-on-collision-course-raducanu-battles-fitness-concerns-serena-faces-joint-on-return-1782488255610">Wimbledon 2026 draw: Can Djokovic stop Sinner and win record 25th Grand Slam?</a>"Swiatek had a bit of great run as she was unbeatable for a while but at the end, I think the girls are much better in terms of standard, performance, and temperament than the way Alcaraz and SInner have moved a little bit beyond than the rest of the bunch."<h2>Who could win Wimbledon 2026 women's singles?</h2>Picking out the winners, Amritraj noted, "among the female athletes today, it was very hard to pick up a winner," but picked out Aryna Sabalenka as the favorite to win. Sabalenka, a four-time grand slam winner, has reached the Wimbledon semis thrice in 2021, 2023, and 2025 but hasn't been able to win the title."Sabalenka has been a overpowering player like Serena, so yes she is a clear favorite on the grass in my opinion. She has the best chance to win, but she got one dimensional game and she is starting to mix it up. The serve is definitely better but other players have found a chink in her armour," he added.Comparing to what has changed over the years at the Wimbledon, Amritraj said, "the grass today is less quick compared to our playing days which also used lighter balls."As for women's tennis, he opined that the competition is "quite wide open, upsets can happen in the early stages of the tournament, especially on this surface. It is not a clear two-three men rivalry like in men's tennis over the decade. It'll be great to see who ends up holding up under the pressure and on the surface," he concluded.<h2>Where to watch and stream Wimbledon 2026 live in India?</h2>Wimbledon 2026 can be watched from June 29 - July 12, LIVE on JioHotstar and Star Sports Network.

Wimbledon has not seen the same women's singles winner since Serena Williams won back-to-back in 2015 and 2016. Sabalenka, meanwhile, has never reached the final with her best being semis in 2021, 2023, and 2025.

The Wimbledon 2026, year's third grand slam, is about to start on June 29 in England and a lot of stories waiting to play out with 23-gran slam winner Serena Williams' comeback being the highlight. It was also Serena who had last won the Championship back-to-back in women's singles - 2015 and 2016. It has been nearly a decade since then but not other female player has been able to achieve the same feat. In fact, women's singles have seen a different champion every year since 2017 with 2020 being cancelled due to Covid-19. At this year's championship, Iga Swiatek comes in as the reigning champion but would she be able to defend the crown remains to be seen. WION spoke to former Indian tennis player and JioStar expert Vijay Amritraj during the JioStar Media Day ahead of Wimbledon 2026 about why it is hard to repeat the success at Wimbledon for female players and he said that the "players have been of same level ever since the Williams sisters (Venus and Serena) left." Also Read - Wimbledon 2026 draw: Can Djokovic stop Sinner and win record 25th Grand Slam? "Swiatek had a bit of great run as she was unbeatable for a while but at the end, I think the girls are much better in terms of standard, performance, and temperament than the way Alcaraz and SInner have moved a little bit beyond than the rest of the bunch." Who could win Wimbledon 2026 women's singles? Picking out the winners, Amritraj noted, "among the female athletes today, it was very hard to pick up a winner," but picked out Aryna Sabalenka as the favorite to win. Sabalenka, a four-time grand slam winner, has reached the Wimbledon semis thrice in 2021, 2023, and 2025 but hasn't been able to win the title. "Sabalenka has been a overpowering player like Serena, so yes she is a clear favorite on the grass in my opinion. She has the best chance to win, but she got one dimensional game and she is starting to mix it up. The serve is definitely better but other players have found a chink in her armour," he added. Comparing to what has changed over the years at the Wimbledon, Amritraj said, "the grass today is less quick compared to our playing days which also used lighter balls." As for women's tennis, he opined that the competition is "quite wide open, upsets can happen in the early stages of the tournament, especially on this surface. It is not a clear two-three men rivalry like in men's tennis over the decade. It'll be great to see who ends up holding up under the pressure and on the surface," he concluded. Where to watch and stream Wimbledon 2026 live in India? Wimbledon 2026 can be watched from June 29 - July 12, LIVE on JioHotstar and Star Sports Network.

Wimbledon has not seen the same women's singles winner since Serena Williams won back-to-back in 2015 and 2016. Sabalenka, meanwhile, has never reached the final with her best being semis in 2021, 2023, and 2025.

Wimbledon 2026 | Ex-India player Vijay Amritraj picks Sabalenka to win women's singles

The 2026 French Open has begun under unusually harsh weather conditions, with a hot conditions sweeping across Paris and pushing temperatures beyond 30°C during the opening rounds at Roland Garros. The scorching conditions has created difficult conditions for both players and spectators, forcing many to seek shade and hydration breaks throughout the day. On court, the heat has altered the behavior of the clay surface and the pace of play by making surface drier and faster than usual. Long rallies and extended matches have become even more taxing as athletes battle fatigue and dehydration. Fans packed into the stands have also struggled to cope with the intense sunshine, making heat management one of the major talking points of the tournament's first week.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/lionel-messi-limps-off-in-mls-game-in-setback-for-argentina-as-fifa-world-cup-2026-nears-1779686871905">Lionel Messi limps off in MLS game in setback for Argentina as FIFA World Cup 2026 nears</a><h2>How is heat affecting players at French Open 2026?</h2>Four-time French Open champion Iga Swiatek was among the players to address the challenging conditions. Speaking after her opening-round victory, she said: “When we came here, it was like 16C and the ball was super heavy. You could put your whole body and whole power into the ball, and you would still feel like you control it. Now you need much more, like, touch, and you can’t go too much. Also, it’s a bit easier to play higher and with spin. The ball is bouncing off the court faster, so that gives you more advantage, I would say. But first you need to have control over the ball because it is playing faster in the air, and it’s easier to put it out.”<h2>What are organizers doing about tackle soaring temperature at Roland Garros?</h2>The organizers have responded by implementing additional measures to protect players and fans, including increased access to drinking water, cooling areas and medical support around the venue. Off the court, fans have been seen seeking shade, using water stations and cooling areas to escape the oppressive temperatures. Officials continue to monitor weather forecasts closely as the tournament progresses. If the heat wave persists, endurance and recovery could prove decisive factors in determining who advances deep into the year's second grand slam, making the battle against the weather almost as important as the battle across the net.

The heat has altered the behavior of the clay surface and the pace of play by making surface drier and faster than usual. Long rallies and extended matches have become even more taxing.

The 2026 French Open has begun under unusually harsh weather conditions, with a hot conditions sweeping across Paris and pushing temperatures beyond 30°C during the opening rounds at Roland Garros. The scorching conditions has created difficult conditions for both players and spectators, forcing many to seek shade and hydration breaks throughout the day. On court, the heat has altered the behavior of the clay surface and the pace of play by making surface drier and faster than usual. Long rallies and extended matches have become even more taxing as athletes battle fatigue and dehydration. Fans packed into the stands have also struggled to cope with the intense sunshine, making heat management one of the major talking points of the tournament's first week. Also Read - Lionel Messi limps off in MLS game in setback for Argentina as FIFA World Cup 2026 nears How is heat affecting players at French Open 2026? Four-time French Open champion Iga Swiatek was among the players to address the challenging conditions. Speaking after her opening-round victory, she said: “When we came here, it was like 16C and the ball was super heavy. You could put your whole body and whole power into the ball, and you would still feel like you control it. Now you need much more, like, touch, and you can’t go too much. Also, it’s a bit easier to play higher and with spin. The ball is bouncing off the court faster, so that gives you more advantage, I would say. But first you need to have control over the ball because it is playing faster in the air, and it’s easier to put it out.” What are organizers doing about tackle soaring temperature at Roland Garros? The organizers have responded by implementing additional measures to protect players and fans, including increased access to drinking water, cooling areas and medical support around the venue. Off the court, fans have been seen seeking shade, using water stations and cooling areas to escape the oppressive temperatures. Officials continue to monitor weather forecasts closely as the tournament progresses. If the heat wave persists, endurance and recovery could prove decisive factors in determining who advances deep into the year's second grand slam, making the battle against the weather almost as important as the battle across the net.

The heat has altered the behavior of the clay surface and the pace of play by making surface drier and faster than usual. Long rallies and extended matches have become even more taxing.

French Open 2026 | How soaring temperature is making ball move faster at Roland Garros

Six-time major champion Iga Swiatek has hired Francisco Roig as her new coach after a dismal outing in the Miami Open. The news was confirmed by the defending Wimbledon singles champion on Thursday (April 2) as she announced high-profile Roig as her trainer ahead of the clay court season, which starts this week. Roig comes with a huge pedigree and worked with 14-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal in the past.<h2>Swiatek welcomes Roig as new coach</h2>"Welcome to the team, Francisco! Very excited for this new chapter," the 24-year-old Pole wrote on Instagram.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-cameron-green-to-liam-livingstone-5-most-expensive-players-in-ipl-2026-auctions-matheesha-pathirana-kartik-sharma-prashant-veer-1774031148132">From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions</a>&nbsp;The news came less than two weeks after the six-time Grand Slam winner announced that she had parted ways with previous coach Wim Fissette following her second-round exit at the Miami Open. It was the former world number one's earliest exit at a tournament since the Cincinnati Open in August 2021. She has been in patchy form this year, losing in the quarter-finals at the Australian Open, the Doha Open and Indian Wells.&nbsp;Roig, 58, spent many years working alongside Nadal's uncle Toni Nadal and then Carlos Moya as part of the Spanish clay court great's team. He has previously coached Britain's Emma Raducanu, Italian Matteo Berrettini and Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-rohit-sharma-to-sanju-samson-5-highest-individual-score-in-a-lost-chase-in-ipl-yusuf-pathan-kl-rahul-shaun-marsh-ipl-2026-1774084136030">From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL</a>&nbsp;Swiatek has enjoyed a stellar last few months, winning her first Wimbledon title last July and reaching the semis of the Australian Open earlier in the year. She would like to defend her Wimbledon title in July while targeting a fifth Roland Garros title in Paris in June. She won the clay court slam on four occasions, including a hat-trick of titles between 2022 and 2024. She first won the title in 2020 and will look to continue her dominance on clay.

The news was confirmed by the defending Wimbledon singles champion Iga Swiatek on Thursday (April 2) as she announced high-profile Francisco Roig as her trainer ahead of the clay court season, which starts this week. 

Six-time major champion Iga Swiatek has hired Francisco Roig as her new coach after a dismal outing in the Miami Open. The news was confirmed by the defending Wimbledon singles champion on Thursday (April 2) as she announced high-profile Roig as her trainer ahead of the clay court season, which starts this week. Roig comes with a huge pedigree and worked with 14-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal in the past. Swiatek welcomes Roig as new coach "Welcome to the team, Francisco! Very excited for this new chapter," the 24-year-old Pole wrote on Instagram. ALSO READ | From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions The news came less than two weeks after the six-time Grand Slam winner announced that she had parted ways with previous coach Wim Fissette following her second-round exit at the Miami Open. It was the former world number one's earliest exit at a tournament since the Cincinnati Open in August 2021. She has been in patchy form this year, losing in the quarter-finals at the Australian Open, the Doha Open and Indian Wells. Roig, 58, spent many years working alongside Nadal's uncle Toni Nadal and then Carlos Moya as part of the Spanish clay court great's team. He has previously coached Britain's Emma Raducanu, Italian Matteo Berrettini and Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. ALSO READ | From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL Swiatek has enjoyed a stellar last few months, winning her first Wimbledon title last July and reaching the semis of the Australian Open earlier in the year. She would like to defend her Wimbledon title in July while targeting a fifth Roland Garros title in Paris in June. She won the clay court slam on four occasions, including a hat-trick of titles between 2022 and 2024. She first won the title in 2020 and will look to continue her dominance on clay.

The news was confirmed by the defending Wimbledon singles champion Iga Swiatek on Thursday (April 2) as she announced high-profile Francisco Roig as her trainer ahead of the clay court season, which starts this week.&nbsp;

Iga Swiatek announces former Rafael Nadal coach Francisco Roig as new trainer ahead of clay court season

Iga Swiatek, world no. 3 and winner of six grand slam titles, is feeling the heat of her own success. After being at the top and become a legend of the game at just 24, the Polish player is finding the sport being 'complicated in head.' The assessent came after her three-set loss in first round of Miami Open - something she's not been too happy about. As a result, Swiatek parted ways with her coach Wim Fissette after 18 months and one Wimbledon title. She, however, admitted, that it will take time for figure out things and go forward.<h2>Swaitek admits feeling pressure of own success</h2>"This is like the worst nightmare a top tennis player can have, dropping in matches in terms of the level," she said after the loss at the mixed zone while speaking to reporters. "So I need to live through this, go forward, learn, and figure it out."Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/teen-us-boxer-sio-awakens-from-medically-induced-coma-after-being-knocked-out-cold-1774324600565">Teen US boxer awakens from medically induced coma after being knocked out cold</a>"I think I am a bit confused. There’s no way but forward. I’m gonna try to work hard to get back to that. I have it in me, I just lost it for a second, the game. Tennis feels complicated in my head. I know it’s supposed to be simple. In terms of my mentality and how I feel on the court, it’s going to take a while," revealed the former world no. 1 while acknowledging her shortcomings.<h2>Swiatek's tennis record</h2>The former world no. 1, who held the position for 125 weeks, won her first grand slam aged 19 when she became victorious at French Open in 2020. She went on to win the Roland Garros title three more time in 2022, 2023, and 2024. In addition to this, she reached the semi-final of Australian Open in 2022 and won the US Open in the same year to cap off a brilliant year. She had success last year as well, when she again reached the Australian Open 2025 semis and won her first Wimbledon title as well.

The former world no. 1, who held the position for 125 weeks, won her first grand slam at French Open in 2020 at age 19. She then won at Roland Garros three consecutive years in 2022, 2023, and 2024. In addtion to that, Swiatek has also won US Open (2022) and Wimbledon (2025) as well.

Iga Swiatek, world no. 3 and winner of six grand slam titles, is feeling the heat of her own success. After being at the top and become a legend of the game at just 24, the Polish player is finding the sport being 'complicated in head.' The assessent came after her three-set loss in first round of Miami Open - something she's not been too happy about. As a result, Swiatek parted ways with her coach Wim Fissette after 18 months and one Wimbledon title. She, however, admitted, that it will take time for figure out things and go forward. Swaitek admits feeling pressure of own success "This is like the worst nightmare a top tennis player can have, dropping in matches in terms of the level," she said after the loss at the mixed zone while speaking to reporters. "So I need to live through this, go forward, learn, and figure it out." Also Read - Teen US boxer awakens from medically induced coma after being knocked out cold "I think I am a bit confused. There’s no way but forward. I’m gonna try to work hard to get back to that. I have it in me, I just lost it for a second, the game. Tennis feels complicated in my head. I know it’s supposed to be simple. In terms of my mentality and how I feel on the court, it’s going to take a while," revealed the former world no. 1 while acknowledging her shortcomings. Swiatek's tennis record The former world no. 1, who held the position for 125 weeks, won her first grand slam aged 19 when she became victorious at French Open in 2020. She went on to win the Roland Garros title three more time in 2022, 2023, and 2024. In addition to this, she reached the semi-final of Australian Open in 2022 and won the US Open in the same year to cap off a brilliant year. She had success last year as well, when she again reached the Australian Open 2025 semis and won her first Wimbledon title as well.

The former world no. 1, who held the position for 125 weeks, won her first grand slam at French Open in 2020 at age 19. She then won at Roland Garros three consecutive years in 2022, 2023, and 2024. In addtion to that, Swiatek has also won US Open (2022) and Wimbledon (2025) as well.

'Tennis feels complicated': Iga Swaitek feels pressure of own success after Miami Open exit

Ace women's tennis player Aryna Sabalenka says that she might never partake in Dubai Open after the tournament director criticised her and Iga Swaitek for withdrawing at the last moment. Sabalenka chose to withdraw from the event to keep heself fresh and the result was visible as she won her maiden Indian Wells tournament last week. The Dubai Open director, meanwhile, had called for stricter penalties as well as other form of punishement including docking of ranking points, something which Sabalenka found 'ridiculous.' Apart from Dubai Open, Sabalenka had also opted out from Doha Open, both WTA 1000 events, and played in February.<h2>Why Sabalenka won't take part in Dubai Open in future?</h2>Sabalenka is not happy with the comments of Dubai Open tournament director Salah Tahlak, who had said: "I think there should be a harsher punishment on the players, not just fines, they should be docked ranking points." Tahlak's comments after Sabalenka and Swiatek had withdrawn from the tournament at the last moment.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/-statehood-trump-bats-for-venezuela-as-us-state-51-after-usa-loses-world-baseball-title-1773808195777">'STATEHOOD': Trump bats for Venezuela as US state #51 after USA loses World Baseball title</a>"I don’t think he showed himself in the best way possible. For me it’s actually so sad to see that the tournament directors and the tournaments are not protecting us as a player. They just care about their sellings, about their tournament and that’s it. His comment was ridiculous. I’m not sure if I ever want to go there after his comment. For me it’s too much," said Sabalenka durin the Miami Open pre-tournament press conference.<h2>Why Sabalenka withdrew from Dubai Open?</h2>The two-time Australian Open and US Open winner also talked about why she withdrew from the Dubai Open at the last moment and said: "Going into this season, we decided we were going to prioritise my health and make sure that we have these little gaps in the schedule where I can just reset, recharge, work and be better prepared for bigger tournaments. I feel like scheduling is going crazy and I feel like that’s why you see so many players are injured, always taped and not delivering the best quality matches because it’s almost impossible."

Sabalenka is not happy with the comments of Dubai Open tournament director Salah Tahlak, who had said: "I think there should be a harsher punishment on the players, not just fines, they should be docked ranking points." Tahlak's comments after Sabalenka had withdrawn from the tournament.

Ace women's tennis player Aryna Sabalenka says that she might never partake in Dubai Open after the tournament director criticised her and Iga Swaitek for withdrawing at the last moment. Sabalenka chose to withdraw from the event to keep heself fresh and the result was visible as she won her maiden Indian Wells tournament last week. The Dubai Open director, meanwhile, had called for stricter penalties as well as other form of punishement including docking of ranking points, something which Sabalenka found 'ridiculous.' Apart from Dubai Open, Sabalenka had also opted out from Doha Open, both WTA 1000 events, and played in February. Why Sabalenka won't take part in Dubai Open in future? Sabalenka is not happy with the comments of Dubai Open tournament director Salah Tahlak, who had said: "I think there should be a harsher punishment on the players, not just fines, they should be docked ranking points." Tahlak's comments after Sabalenka and Swiatek had withdrawn from the tournament at the last moment. Also Read - 'STATEHOOD': Trump bats for Venezuela as US state #51 after USA loses World Baseball title "I don’t think he showed himself in the best way possible. For me it’s actually so sad to see that the tournament directors and the tournaments are not protecting us as a player. They just care about their sellings, about their tournament and that’s it. His comment was ridiculous. I’m not sure if I ever want to go there after his comment. For me it’s too much," said Sabalenka durin the Miami Open pre-tournament press conference. Why Sabalenka withdrew from Dubai Open? The two-time Australian Open and US Open winner also talked about why she withdrew from the Dubai Open at the last moment and said: "Going into this season, we decided we were going to prioritise my health and make sure that we have these little gaps in the schedule where I can just reset, recharge, work and be better prepared for bigger tournaments. I feel like scheduling is going crazy and I feel like that’s why you see so many players are injured, always taped and not delivering the best quality matches because it’s almost impossible."

Sabalenka is not happy with the comments of Dubai Open tournament director Salah Tahlak, who had said: "I think there should be a harsher punishment on the players, not just fines, they should be docked ranking points." Tahlak's comments after Sabalenka had withdrawn from the tournament.

'Tournaments not protecting us': Sabalenka not going to Dubai Open in future after director's 'ridiculous' comments

Iga Swiatek crashed out of the Australian Open 2026 after losing 7–5, 6–1 in straight sets to Elena Rybakina on Wednesday (Jan 28). After the loss, Swiatek lashed out at grand slam broadcasters for invading the players' privacy at the tournament. Swiatek's outburst came a day after Coco Gauff also hit out at Australian Open broadcasters for capturing her moment of smashing the racquet post loss. Swiatek defended <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ao-2026-not-a-bad-thing-coco-gauff-unhappy-after-racquet-smashing-video-goes-viral-after-loss-vs-svitolina-1769524149236">Gauff's stand on player privacy</a> and asked for balance between providing content and personal spcae.<h2>Swiatek asks if 'players are animal'</h2>"The question is, are we tennis players? Or are we animals in the zoo? Where they are observed even when they’re pooping," Swiatek asked at her post-match press conference. "Okay, that was exaggerating obviously, but it would be nice to have some privacy. It would be nice to have your own process and not always be observed. In other sports, you have some technical things you want to do, and it would be nice to have some space where you can do that without the whole world watching," she added.Also Check: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ao-2026-watch-djokovic-gets-walkover-qf-win-at-two-sets-down-after-musetti-retires-with-inury-1769583180494">AO 2026 | WATCH: Djokovic gets walkover QF win after Musetti retires with injury</a>Earlier in the tournament, Swiatek was stopped from entering the Melbourne Park without proper ID and the moment instantly became a meme. The Polish player didn't like it and touched upon the topic during the press conference as well. She said: "We’re meant to be watched on court and in the press. That’s our job. It’s not our job to be a meme when you forget your accreditation. It’s funny for sure, but for us, I don’t think it’s necessary."<h2><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ao-2026-watch-gauff-smashes-racquet-to-bits-in-unhinged-reaction-post-qf-loss-vs-svitolina-1769515266516">Gauff smashes racquet in frustration after loss</a></h2>Gauff, a two-time grand slam champion, did not handle the loss vs vs Elina Svitolina very well and was seen smashing her racquet to the bits in the match call area. The reaction says all about how bad the loss must have stung Gauff, a favourite to win the tournament but alas, not anymore. Moreover, the loss came in just 59 minutes, making it even bitter for the 2025 French Open champion.

Swiatek's outburst came a day after Coco Gauff also hit out at Australian Open broadcasters for capturing her moment of smashing the racquet post loss. Earlier in the tournament, Swiatek was stopped from entering the Melbourne Park without proper ID and the moment instantly became a meme.

Iga Swiatek crashed out of the Australian Open 2026 after losing 7–5, 6–1 in straight sets to Elena Rybakina on Wednesday (Jan 28). After the loss, Swiatek lashed out at grand slam broadcasters for invading the players' privacy at the tournament. Swiatek's outburst came a day after Coco Gauff also hit out at Australian Open broadcasters for capturing her moment of smashing the racquet post loss. Swiatek defended Gauff's stand on player privacy and asked for balance between providing content and personal spcae. Swiatek asks if 'players are animal' "The question is, are we tennis players? Or are we animals in the zoo? Where they are observed even when they’re pooping," Swiatek asked at her post-match press conference. "Okay, that was exaggerating obviously, but it would be nice to have some privacy. It would be nice to have your own process and not always be observed. In other sports, you have some technical things you want to do, and it would be nice to have some space where you can do that without the whole world watching," she added. Also Check: AO 2026 | WATCH: Djokovic gets walkover QF win after Musetti retires with injury Earlier in the tournament, Swiatek was stopped from entering the Melbourne Park without proper ID and the moment instantly became a meme. The Polish player didn't like it and touched upon the topic during the press conference as well. She said: "We’re meant to be watched on court and in the press. That’s our job. It’s not our job to be a meme when you forget your accreditation. It’s funny for sure, but for us, I don’t think it’s necessary." Gauff smashes racquet in frustration after loss Gauff, a two-time grand slam champion, did not handle the loss vs vs Elina Svitolina very well and was seen smashing her racquet to the bits in the match call area. The reaction says all about how bad the loss must have stung Gauff, a favourite to win the tournament but alas, not anymore. Moreover, the loss came in just 59 minutes, making it even bitter for the 2025 French Open champion.

Swiatek's outburst came a day after Coco Gauff also hit out at Australian Open broadcasters for capturing her moment of smashing the racquet post loss. Earlier in the tournament, Swiatek was stopped from entering the Melbourne Park without proper ID and the moment instantly became a meme.

AO 2026 | 'Observed even when pooping': Swiatek asks 'are we animals' and chimes in on privacy debate

In what comes across as a second shocker in the women’s last eight at the ongoing Australian Open 2026, fifth seed Elena Rybakina stunned the world number two Iga Swiatek to reach the semi-final on Wednesday (Jan 28), denying the tournament favourite in her bid for a career Grand Slam. Rybakina bounced back from early serving woes to beat Swiatek in the straight sets (7-5, 6-1); she will meet either Jessica Pegula or Amanda Anisimova for a place in the final at Melbourne Park.&nbsp;Having lost the summit clash to the world number one Aryna Sabalenka in her last final here in 2023, Rybakina hasn’t reached the quarters at the Australian Open since. However, the 2022 Wimbledon champion has been the player in form lately in the women’s division, winning 18 of her last 19 matches. &nbsp;Rybakina has now reached her fourth career Slam semi-final and first since Wimbledon 2024.&nbsp;Watch her winning moment -

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🚨 Fun fact: Rybakina hasn&#39;t dropped a single set on her way to the semifinal and she sealed the deal with an ace here! <a href="https://twitter.com/wwos?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@wwos</a> • <a href="https://twitter.com/espn?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@espn</a> • <a href="https://twitter.com/tntsports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tntsports</a> • <a href="https://twitter.com/wowowtennis?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@wowowtennis</a> • <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AO26?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AO26</a> <a href="https://t.co/rHB2l8dOKn">pic.twitter.com/rHB2l8dOKn</a>&mdash; #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) <a href="https://twitter.com/AustralianOpen/status/2016336060465266944?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

"Really pleased with the win," said the 26-year-old. "We know each other pretty well, and I was just trying to stay aggressive. &nbsp;"I feel like in the first set for both of us, the first serve was not really working, so just trying to step in on the second serve, put pressure on each other. &nbsp;"I think in the second set I just started to play more freely and served better."&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ao-2026-what-is-whoop-band-and-why-sabalenka-sinner-alcaraz-asked-to-remove-fitness-device-1769528111210">AO 2026 | 'Not steroids': What is Whoop band - Sabalenka, Sinner, Alcaraz asked to remove fitness device</a> &nbsp;Defeat, however, denied Swiatek a career Grand Slam of all four majors. She has won four French Opens, the US Open and Wimbledon, but a title at Melbourne Park remains elusive.&nbsp; &nbsp;Swiatek and Rybakina had met 11 times before, including five last season, with the Pole holding a narrow 6-5 edge. But Rybakina won the last encounter at the WTA Finals in Riyadh. &nbsp;Swiatek forged a break on Rybakina's opening serve, with the Kazakh getting only one of her first serves in, but she struck back immediately to keep the match level. &nbsp;Rybakina's serve was misfiring, and the Pole worked another three break points in the next game, but all were saved as the fifth seed hung on. The Kazakh made some adjustments, and her serve finally started to hit the mark. &nbsp;There was little to split them until Swiatek served to stay in the set at 5-6, with Rybakina going for her shots and converting on the second set-point opportunity. &nbsp;The writing was on the wall for Swiatek with Rybakina winning her last 21 matches after taking the first set, and she pounced early with a sizzling forehand return, earning a break to love. &nbsp;She consolidated for 3-0, and when two straight aces made it 4-1, there was no way back for the Pole.&nbsp;(With inputs from AFP)

Rybakina bounced back from early serving woes to beat Swiatek in the straight sets (7-5, 6-1). 

In what comes across as a second shocker in the women’s last eight at the ongoing Australian Open 2026, fifth seed Elena Rybakina stunned the world number two Iga Swiatek to reach the semi-final on Wednesday (Jan 28), denying the tournament favourite in her bid for a career Grand Slam. Rybakina bounced back from early serving woes to beat Swiatek in the straight sets (7-5, 6-1); she will meet either Jessica Pegula or Amanda Anisimova for a place in the final at Melbourne Park. Having lost the summit clash to the world number one Aryna Sabalenka in her last final here in 2023, Rybakina hasn’t reached the quarters at the Australian Open since. However, the 2022 Wimbledon champion has been the player in form lately in the women’s division, winning 18 of her last 19 matches. Rybakina has now reached her fourth career Slam semi-final and first since Wimbledon 2024. Watch her winning moment -

Rybakina bounced back from early serving woes to beat Swiatek in the straight sets (7-5, 6-1).&nbsp;

Iga Swiatek follows Gauff on her way out of Australian Open in another QF shocker

Novak Djokovic continues to age like a fine wine as the Serbian won his 400th match at a Grand Slam tournament on Saturday (Jan 24), having got the better of Botic Van de Zandschulp at the Red Laver Arena in round three of the Australian Open 2026. Djokovic, a 10-time winner of the Australian Open, made light work of his Dutch counterpart as he sealed his place in the fourth round. Elsewhere in the third round, Jannik Sinner was through to the next round, extending his winning streak to 17 matches in Melbourne Part, while Iga Swiatek also won her contest.<h2>Djokovic scripts history</h2>In what was a one-sided affair at the Rod Laver Arena, Djokovic swept past Dutchman van de Zandschulp 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4). The win means he became the first player in the history of the sport to reach the feat of 400 wins in Grand Slam tournaments. The legendary star has 10 Australian Open, seven Wimbledon, three French Open and four US Open titles to his name during an illustrious career. &nbsp;&nbsp;Roger Federer (369) and Serena Williams (365) are the next best. Victory was also his 102nd at Melbourne Park, where he has won 10 titles, to equal Federer with the most Australian Open singles wins. Djokovic's reward is a fourth-round clash with either Czech rising star Jakub Mensik or American tournament debutant Ethan Quinn, whose match was delayed due to extreme heat. The 24-time Slam winner is in good form so far as he bids to shatter the recent dominance of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/meet-indians-to-score-most-runs-in-each-of-last-5-t20-world-cups-ft-virat-kohli-kl-rahul-rohit-sharma-2026-t20-world-cup-1768479871185">Meet Indians to score most runs in each of last 5 T20 World Cups ft Virat Kohli</a>&nbsp;"I'm still trying to give these young guys a push for their money," said Djokovic. "I'm still around. I'm hanging in there.&nbsp;"Obviously, Alcaraz and Sinner are the two best players in the world. They're playing on a different level from all of us right now.&nbsp;"But, you know, when you enter the court and the ball rolls, you always have a chance, particularly here, on the court that has given me the most in my career."&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-chris-gayle-to-brendon-mccullum-5-batters-to-score-fastest-t20-world-cup-hundreds-rilee-rossouw-ahmed-shehzad-1768553361691">From Chris Gayle to Brendon McCullum, 5 batters to score fastest T20 World Cup hundreds</a><h2>Sinner, Swiatek in R4</h2>Six-time major champion Iga Swiatek endured a roller-coaster ride before sealing her place in the Australian Open last 16. The Polish second seed, who is chasing a maiden Melbourne title, wobbled before beating 31st Russian seed Anna Kalinskaya 6-1, 1-6, 6-1. Swiatek faces qualifier Maddison Inglis next after Naomi Osaka pulled out of her third-round match against the Australian because of injury.&nbsp;Elsewhere, two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner was also through to the next round, having beaten USA’s Eliot Spizzirri 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.

Novak Djokovic, a 10-time winner of the Australian Open, made light work of his Dutch counterpart as he sealed his place in the fourth round. 

Novak Djokovic continues to age like a fine wine as the Serbian won his 400th match at a Grand Slam tournament on Saturday (Jan 24), having got the better of Botic Van de Zandschulp at the Red Laver Arena in round three of the Australian Open 2026. Djokovic, a 10-time winner of the Australian Open, made light work of his Dutch counterpart as he sealed his place in the fourth round. Elsewhere in the third round, Jannik Sinner was through to the next round, extending his winning streak to 17 matches in Melbourne Part, while Iga Swiatek also won her contest. Djokovic scripts history In what was a one-sided affair at the Rod Laver Arena, Djokovic swept past Dutchman van de Zandschulp 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4). The win means he became the first player in the history of the sport to reach the feat of 400 wins in Grand Slam tournaments. The legendary star has 10 Australian Open, seven Wimbledon, three French Open and four US Open titles to his name during an illustrious career. Roger Federer (369) and Serena Williams (365) are the next best. Victory was also his 102nd at Melbourne Park, where he has won 10 titles, to equal Federer with the most Australian Open singles wins. Djokovic's reward is a fourth-round clash with either Czech rising star Jakub Mensik or American tournament debutant Ethan Quinn, whose match was delayed due to extreme heat. The 24-time Slam winner is in good form so far as he bids to shatter the recent dominance of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. ALSO READ | Meet Indians to score most runs in each of last 5 T20 World Cups ft Virat Kohli "I'm still trying to give these young guys a push for their money," said Djokovic. "I'm still around. I'm hanging in there. "Obviously, Alcaraz and Sinner are the two best players in the world. They're playing on a different level from all of us right now. "But, you know, when you enter the court and the ball rolls, you always have a chance, particularly here, on the court that has given me the most in my career." ALSO READ | From Chris Gayle to Brendon McCullum, 5 batters to score fastest T20 World Cup hundreds Sinner, Swiatek in R4 Six-time major champion Iga Swiatek endured a roller-coaster ride before sealing her place in the Australian Open last 16. The Polish second seed, who is chasing a maiden Melbourne title, wobbled before beating 31st Russian seed Anna Kalinskaya 6-1, 1-6, 6-1. Swiatek faces qualifier Maddison Inglis next after Naomi Osaka pulled out of her third-round match against the Australian because of injury. Elsewhere, two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner was also through to the next round, having beaten USA’s Eliot Spizzirri 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.

Novak Djokovic, a 10-time winner of the Australian Open, made light work of his Dutch counterpart as he sealed his place in the fourth round.&nbsp;

Australian Open: Djokovic scripts history with 400 Grand Slam wins; Sinner, Swiatek in R4

World number two Iga Swiatek survived an exit scare on day two of the 2026 Australian Open after beating Chinese qualifier Yuan Yue to launch her bid for a career Grand Slam. During her Slam opener in Melbourne, Swiatek was pushed to the limits at the legendary Rod Laver Arena before prevailing 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 more than two hours later. The Polish superstar will next face the Czech Republic’s Marie Bouzkova. Although this win was a welcome boost for Swiatek, who lost her last two singles matches at the lead-up United Cup, recording 35 unforced errors comes as a worrying sign against a player who had only made it past the first round once in 13 previous Grand Slam appearances.&nbsp;"I was a bit rusty at the beginning, I didn't really start well, and she used the opportunity," she said. "But I knew if I could put the hard work in, I would play better. So that's what I tried to do from the middle of the first set.&nbsp;"I'm happy that it worked. For sure, many ups and downs, I have some stuff to work on, so I'll just focus on that."&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/dark-horse-of-australian-open-2026-daniil-medvedev-beats-de-jong-in-straight-sets-and-fires-early-warning-to-alcaraz-and-sinner-1768818809678">Dark horse of Australian Open 2026: Daniil Medvedev fires early warning to Alcaraz and Sinner</a>&nbsp;Swiatek has won four French Opens, the US Open and Wimbledon, but a title at Melbourne Park has proved elusive. The 24-year-old has made the semi-finals twice but has never gone further. Should she finally win the title and complete the career Grand Slam, she would be only the seventh woman in the Open era to do so and the third youngest after Steffi Graf and Serena Williams.<h3>‘Unfazed Yuan pushed Swiatek to limits’</h3>Yuan, ranked 130, was unfazed by facing a player of her stature and came out with all guns blazing. She broke a shaky Swiatek's first service game and consolidated with a hold.&nbsp;Swiatek had to fend off a break point on her next serve before she settled and got on the board. With her radar seemingly starting to function, she broke to level the set at 3-3, but Yuan again pounced to break back.&nbsp;Swiatek finally came good when Yuan served for the set, with her powerful groundstrokes too much for the Chinese player.&nbsp;It headed for a tiebreak where Swiatek again had to fight hard before getting over the line, with 21 unforced errors in the set.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Simply superb, Swiatek 😍 7-6 (5), 6-3, and Iga is through to the second round!<a href="https://twitter.com/wwos?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@wwos</a> • <a href="https://twitter.com/espn?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@espn</a> • <a href="https://twitter.com/tntsports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tntsports</a> • <a href="https://twitter.com/wowowtennis?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@wowowtennis</a> • <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AO26?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AO26</a> <a href="https://t.co/Ej6l2GjNPK">pic.twitter.com/Ej6l2GjNPK</a>&mdash; #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) <a href="https://twitter.com/AustralianOpen/status/2013194638929080636?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 19, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

She raced 3-0 clear in the second set, and when Yuan had a medical timeout for a lower back issue, it appeared to be all over. But the plucky 27-year-old won the next two games to stay alive before running out of steam.&nbsp;(With inputs from AFP)

During her Slam opener in Melbourne, Swiatek was pushed to the limits at the legendary Rod Laver Arena before prevailing 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 more than two hours later.

World number two Iga Swiatek survived an exit scare on day two of the 2026 Australian Open after beating Chinese qualifier Yuan Yue to launch her bid for a career Grand Slam. During her Slam opener in Melbourne, Swiatek was pushed to the limits at the legendary Rod Laver Arena before prevailing 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 more than two hours later. The Polish superstar will next face the Czech Republic’s Marie Bouzkova. Although this win was a welcome boost for Swiatek, who lost her last two singles matches at the lead-up United Cup, recording 35 unforced errors comes as a worrying sign against a player who had only made it past the first round once in 13 previous Grand Slam appearances. "I was a bit rusty at the beginning, I didn't really start well, and she used the opportunity," she said. "But I knew if I could put the hard work in, I would play better. So that's what I tried to do from the middle of the first set. "I'm happy that it worked. For sure, many ups and downs, I have some stuff to work on, so I'll just focus on that." Also read | Dark horse of Australian Open 2026: Daniil Medvedev fires early warning to Alcaraz and Sinner Swiatek has won four French Opens, the US Open and Wimbledon, but a title at Melbourne Park has proved elusive. The 24-year-old has made the semi-finals twice but has never gone further. Should she finally win the title and complete the career Grand Slam, she would be only the seventh woman in the Open era to do so and the third youngest after Steffi Graf and Serena Williams. ‘Unfazed Yuan pushed Swiatek to limits’ Yuan, ranked 130, was unfazed by facing a player of her stature and came out with all guns blazing. She broke a shaky Swiatek's first service game and consolidated with a hold. Swiatek had to fend off a break point on her next serve before she settled and got on the board. With her radar seemingly starting to function, she broke to level the set at 3-3, but Yuan again pounced to break back. Swiatek finally came good when Yuan served for the set, with her powerful groundstrokes too much for the Chinese player. It headed for a tiebreak where Swiatek again had to fight hard before getting over the line, with 21 unforced errors in the set.

During her Slam opener in Melbourne, Swiatek was pushed to the limits at the legendary Rod Laver Arena before prevailing 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 more than two hours later.

Australian Open 2026: Iga Swiatek survives exit scare to punch second-round ticket

Iga Swiatek played down any concerns around her form and fitness and maintained that everything was under control despite suffering back-to-back defeats just days before the Australian Open. The world number two faced rare consecutive losses at the United Cup in Sydney, first against Coco Gauff in the semi-final and then against Belinda Bencic in the final, but refused to read too much into the results.&nbsp;&nbsp;Swiatek looked physically drained and emotionally frustrated during the final, where she lost momentum completely after a strong second set. However, the Polish star remained confident that these setbacks were part of the early-season grind and would not affect her chances at the season’s first Grand Slam. She believes recovery and fine-tuning will put her back on track.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-nz-ayush-badoni-gets-maiden-odi-call-up-after-washington-sundar-injury-1768222953728">IND vs NZ: Ayush Badoni gets maiden ODI call-up after Washington Sundar injury</a>&nbsp;“Everything is fine. I’m just super sore. The first tournament of the year always costs the body differently than during the season. I had a similar experience last year, too. I’ll just get a good recovery and take a couple of days off.” Speaking about the physical and mental demands of team events, she added, “I love them, but they really take a lot of energy from you. I still need to figure out how to balance that in the future.” Swiatek also admitted she was not sharp against Bencic, saying, “I wasn’t feeling so precise physically. My movement and intensity dropped.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Swiatek lost 3-6, 6-0, 6-3 to Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic in the mixed teams final, a match that summed up her struggles. After dominating the second set, she lost seven consecutive games, including a rare bagel, and finished with 36 unforced errors compared to Bencic’s 10. The frustration was visible as she tossed her racquet and looked close to tears at the end. It was an uncharacteristic sight for a player known for her composure and consistency.&nbsp;Before the losses to Gauff and Bencic, Swiatek had impressed with comfortable wins over Eva Lys, Suzan Lamens and Maya Joint. That made her sudden dip in form even more surprising. These defeats marked only the second time in recent years that she has lost back-to-back matches, the last instance coming at the WTA Finals in 2025.&nbsp;With the Australian Open around the corner, Swiatek knows time is limited. “We’re going to work on improving the elements that didn’t work this week,” she said, according to AFP. “There isn’t much time if I also want to recover, but this is tennis. You have to go with the flow.”&nbsp;The Australian Open remains the only Grand Slam missing from Swiatek’s career. She has reached the semi-finals twice in Melbourne but is yet to go beyond that stage.

Iga Swiatek says everything is fine after back-to-back losses at the United Cup, admitting soreness but staying confident of recovery as she fine-tunes her game ahead of Australian Open 2026.

Iga Swiatek played down any concerns around her form and fitness and maintained that everything was under control despite suffering back-to-back defeats just days before the Australian Open. The world number two faced rare consecutive losses at the United Cup in Sydney, first against Coco Gauff in the semi-final and then against Belinda Bencic in the final, but refused to read too much into the results. Swiatek looked physically drained and emotionally frustrated during the final, where she lost momentum completely after a strong second set. However, the Polish star remained confident that these setbacks were part of the early-season grind and would not affect her chances at the season’s first Grand Slam. She believes recovery and fine-tuning will put her back on track. Also read | IND vs NZ: Ayush Badoni gets maiden ODI call-up after Washington Sundar injury “Everything is fine. I’m just super sore. The first tournament of the year always costs the body differently than during the season. I had a similar experience last year, too. I’ll just get a good recovery and take a couple of days off.” Speaking about the physical and mental demands of team events, she added, “I love them, but they really take a lot of energy from you. I still need to figure out how to balance that in the future.” Swiatek also admitted she was not sharp against Bencic, saying, “I wasn’t feeling so precise physically. My movement and intensity dropped.” Swiatek lost 3-6, 6-0, 6-3 to Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic in the mixed teams final, a match that summed up her struggles. After dominating the second set, she lost seven consecutive games, including a rare bagel, and finished with 36 unforced errors compared to Bencic’s 10. The frustration was visible as she tossed her racquet and looked close to tears at the end. It was an uncharacteristic sight for a player known for her composure and consistency. Before the losses to Gauff and Bencic, Swiatek had impressed with comfortable wins over Eva Lys, Suzan Lamens and Maya Joint. That made her sudden dip in form even more surprising. These defeats marked only the second time in recent years that she has lost back-to-back matches, the last instance coming at the WTA Finals in 2025. With the Australian Open around the corner, Swiatek knows time is limited. “We’re going to work on improving the elements that didn’t work this week,” she said, according to AFP. “There isn’t much time if I also want to recover, but this is tennis. You have to go with the flow.” The Australian Open remains the only Grand Slam missing from Swiatek’s career. She has reached the semi-finals twice in Melbourne but is yet to go beyond that stage.

Iga Swiatek says everything is fine after back-to-back losses at the United Cup, admitting soreness but staying confident of recovery as she fine-tunes her game ahead of Australian Open 2026.

'Everything is fine': Swiatek sends calm message before Australian Open 2026

Six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek on Saturday said she saw little point to the "Battle of the Sexes" match and that women's tennis has nothing more to prove.&nbsp;World number one Aryna Sabalenka and Australian Nick Kyrgios faced off in a highly publicised and controversial exhibition match in Dubai a week ago.&nbsp;Kyrgios won 6-3, 6-3 with Sabalenka's side of the court reduced in size by nine percent in an attempt to restrict his power and speed advantage.&nbsp;It bore little resemblance to the era-defining 1973 "Battle of the Sexes" encounter between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs.&nbsp;Back then, there was more at stake with the nascent women's professional tour, set up by King, fighting for legitimacy and prize money.&nbsp;"I haven't watched because I don't watch stuff like that," world number two Swiatek said in Sydney, where she opens her season at the United Cup.&nbsp;"I think for sure it attracted a lot of attention. It was entertainment, but I wouldn't say that had anything to do with social change or any important topics.&nbsp;"I think the name was just the same as the one from the Billie Jean King match in '73. That's it. There were no more similarities because I feel like women's tennis stands on its own right now.&nbsp;"We have so many great athletes and great stories to present, we don't necessarily need to compare to men's tennis.&nbsp;"Honestly, there doesn't need to be any competition."&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-leonard-hutton-to-don-bradman-5-batters-with-highest-individual-score-in-ashes-bob-simpson-bob-cowper-ashes-2025-26-1762276944046">From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes</a>&nbsp;The Polish star, who is preparing for the Australian Open this month, the only Grand Slam she is yet to win, said the mixed-teams United Cup was a better way to celebrate men's and women's tennis.&nbsp;"I think actually events like this one, United Cup, brings tennis together, and WTA fans and ATP fans can watch this event with so much excitement," she said.&nbsp;"Seeing also singles players that usually don't have space to play mixed doubles together, playing these kind of matches, I think this is actually what makes our sport much more interesting and better."&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-steve-smith-to-joe-root-5-active-batters-with-most-runs-in-ashes-ben-stokes-jonny-bairstow-usman-khawaja-1762275784636">From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes</a>&nbsp;Ties at the United Cup comprise one men's and one women's singles and a mixed doubles, with group winners in each host city -- Perth and Sydney -- advancing to the quarter-finals along with the best runners-up.&nbsp;Sabalenka this week defended playing Kyrgios, saying tennis needs to "keep it fresh, keep it new, keep it fun".&nbsp;"I think I would definitely do it again," she said. "I love revenge and I don't like to leave it the way it is."&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

World number one Aryna Sabalenka and Australian Nick Kyrgios faced off in a highly publicised and controversial exhibition match in Dubai a week ago.

Six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek on Saturday said she saw little point to the "Battle of the Sexes" match and that women's tennis has nothing more to prove. World number one Aryna Sabalenka and Australian Nick Kyrgios faced off in a highly publicised and controversial exhibition match in Dubai a week ago. Kyrgios won 6-3, 6-3 with Sabalenka's side of the court reduced in size by nine percent in an attempt to restrict his power and speed advantage. It bore little resemblance to the era-defining 1973 "Battle of the Sexes" encounter between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs. Back then, there was more at stake with the nascent women's professional tour, set up by King, fighting for legitimacy and prize money. "I haven't watched because I don't watch stuff like that," world number two Swiatek said in Sydney, where she opens her season at the United Cup. "I think for sure it attracted a lot of attention. It was entertainment, but I wouldn't say that had anything to do with social change or any important topics. "I think the name was just the same as the one from the Billie Jean King match in '73. That's it. There were no more similarities because I feel like women's tennis stands on its own right now. "We have so many great athletes and great stories to present, we don't necessarily need to compare to men's tennis. "Honestly, there doesn't need to be any competition." ALSO READ | From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes The Polish star, who is preparing for the Australian Open this month, the only Grand Slam she is yet to win, said the mixed-teams United Cup was a better way to celebrate men's and women's tennis. "I think actually events like this one, United Cup, brings tennis together, and WTA fans and ATP fans can watch this event with so much excitement," she said. "Seeing also singles players that usually don't have space to play mixed doubles together, playing these kind of matches, I think this is actually what makes our sport much more interesting and better." ALSO READ | From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes Ties at the United Cup comprise one men's and one women's singles and a mixed doubles, with group winners in each host city -- Perth and Sydney -- advancing to the quarter-finals along with the best runners-up. Sabalenka this week defended playing Kyrgios, saying tennis needs to "keep it fresh, keep it new, keep it fun". "I think I would definitely do it again," she said. "I love revenge and I don't like to leave it the way it is." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

World number one Aryna Sabalenka and Australian Nick Kyrgios faced off in a highly publicised and controversial exhibition match in Dubai a week ago.

Iga Swiatek says women's tennis does not need 'Battle of the Sexes'

Jannik Sinner survived a scare to sink French qualifier Terence Atmane 6-4, 7-5, 6-0 at the China Open on Saturday (Sep 27) as Iga Swiatek launched her title bid. The world number two Italian Sinner will face 57th-ranked Fabian Marozsan of Hungary in the Beijing quarter-finals.&nbsp;"It was a very tough match today," four-time Grand Slam champion Sinner said. "I felt like he was serving great."&nbsp;Sinner said that he lost a bit of concentration during the second set but quickly recovered to steamroll past the 68th-ranked Atmane in the deciding set.&nbsp;"I started off very well in the third set, then I saw (Atmane) struggling a bit physically.&nbsp;"It's not how you want to win a match, but very happy to be again in the next round."&nbsp;Atmane declared it would be a fight with two aces in the first game and made Sinner work for the first set. Atmane sent down six more aces in the second and broke the 24-year-old Sinner to force a deciding set. With the Frenchman flagging, Sinner raced to victory.&nbsp;In the women's draw, Swiatek breezed past home player Yuan Yue, cruising into round three with a 6-0, 6-3 victory.&nbsp;The world number two from Poland next faces Colombia's Camila Osorio, ranked 83rd.&nbsp;Swiatek broke early to set the tone for an ultimately one-sided match against Yuan, winning the first set without dropping a game when the wildcard from China fired long.&nbsp;Cheered on by her home crowd, the world no. 110 made a better fist of it in the second set, but Swiatek wrapped things up when Yuan returned into the net.&nbsp;Swiatek, who came to the Chinese capital after winning the title in Seoul, gave kudos to her opponent afterwards.&nbsp;"She was reading the court pretty well," Swiatek said. "It wasn't easy, and every game was tight."&nbsp;The six-time major champion is the top seed in Beijing after world number one Aryna Sabalenka withdrew with injury.&nbsp;Swiatek won the prestigious WTA 1000 tournament in 2023 but missed the competition last year, citing personal matters. It later transpired she had accepted a one-month doping ban after testing positive for a prohibited substance.&nbsp;"I have great memories," Swiatek said of her history in the Chinese capital. "But every tournament is a different story, so you gotta start from the beginning and grind."&nbsp;Also in the women's draw, world number five Mirra Andreeva of Russia swept aside Zhu Lin of China 6-2, 6-2, and American Jessica Pegula dispatched Australian Ajla Tomljanovic 6-0, 6-3.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

Sinner said that he lost a bit of concentration during the second set but quickly recovered to steamroll past the 68th-ranked Atmane in the deciding set.

Jannik Sinner survived a scare to sink French qualifier Terence Atmane 6-4, 7-5, 6-0 at the China Open on Saturday (Sep 27) as Iga Swiatek launched her title bid. The world number two Italian Sinner will face 57th-ranked Fabian Marozsan of Hungary in the Beijing quarter-finals. "It was a very tough match today," four-time Grand Slam champion Sinner said. "I felt like he was serving great." Sinner said that he lost a bit of concentration during the second set but quickly recovered to steamroll past the 68th-ranked Atmane in the deciding set. "I started off very well in the third set, then I saw (Atmane) struggling a bit physically. "It's not how you want to win a match, but very happy to be again in the next round." Atmane declared it would be a fight with two aces in the first game and made Sinner work for the first set. Atmane sent down six more aces in the second and broke the 24-year-old Sinner to force a deciding set. With the Frenchman flagging, Sinner raced to victory. In the women's draw, Swiatek breezed past home player Yuan Yue, cruising into round three with a 6-0, 6-3 victory. The world number two from Poland next faces Colombia's Camila Osorio, ranked 83rd. Swiatek broke early to set the tone for an ultimately one-sided match against Yuan, winning the first set without dropping a game when the wildcard from China fired long. Cheered on by her home crowd, the world no. 110 made a better fist of it in the second set, but Swiatek wrapped things up when Yuan returned into the net. Swiatek, who came to the Chinese capital after winning the title in Seoul, gave kudos to her opponent afterwards. "She was reading the court pretty well," Swiatek said. "It wasn't easy, and every game was tight." The six-time major champion is the top seed in Beijing after world number one Aryna Sabalenka withdrew with injury. Swiatek won the prestigious WTA 1000 tournament in 2023 but missed the competition last year, citing personal matters. It later transpired she had accepted a one-month doping ban after testing positive for a prohibited substance. "I have great memories," Swiatek said of her history in the Chinese capital. "But every tournament is a different story, so you gotta start from the beginning and grind." Also in the women's draw, world number five Mirra Andreeva of Russia swept aside Zhu Lin of China 6-2, 6-2, and American Jessica Pegula dispatched Australian Ajla Tomljanovic 6-0, 6-3. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

Sinner said that he lost a bit of concentration during the second set but quickly recovered to steamroll past the 68th-ranked Atmane in the deciding set.

China Open: Sinner survives scare as Iga Swiatek launches title bid

Iga Swaitek, while replying a question about fans wanting game-worn gear of players is strange, says she 'completely understands the behaviour.' The statement came on the back of recent <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ceo-snatched-kamil-majchrzak-hat-from-young-boy-at-us-open-video-was-caught-up-in-joy-of-victory-1756805287139">hat stealing incident by a Polish CEO</a> from a young boy in week 1 of the ongoing US Open 2025. While Iga called the incident 'strange' after the video of the moment viral on social media, she admitted that it is hard for players to make every fan happy. The Polish player, although did not shy from acknowledging that she understands such behaviour needing memorabilia from players.<h2>Iga on wanting Rafael Nadal's sweaty towels</h2>Speaking on the incident after her Round of 16 match, Iga was asked if was strange as a player for her to have fans pushing each other for a piece of game-worn gear, she said: “No, because I would love to have a sweaty towel of Rafa's when I was a kid.”Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/-oldest-djokovic-emulates-jimmy-connors-goes-past-federer-and-agassi-in-historic-us-open-2025-r16-win-1756704948883">US Open: 'Oldest' Djokovic emulates Connors, passes Federer in historic R16 win</a>The honesty from Swiatek, however, still does not justify a grown-up person working a CEO of a company denying a young boy to have the lifelong memorabilia from a player and she called the US Open hat stealing incident 'strange.'<h2>How does Swiatek manage fans?</h2>The polish player explained the other side of the picture as well and said it is difficult for a player to make everyone happy as well with fans fighting over rails."Usually, like, seven people reach out for one thing. For example, if it’s a girl and the boys have longer arms, it’s not kind of - she's not going to catch it. But I usually throw, like, at the person that is supposed to get it," Swiatek explained. She, however, agreed that an adult grabbing a thing meant for child is 'not cool.'Swaitek will next <a href="Amanda Anisimova sets up Iga Swiatek quarter-final at US Open 2025">face Wimbledon 2025 final opponent Amanda Anisimova</a> in US Open 2025 quarter-final.

Polish player Iga Swiatek acknowledges wanting 'Rafa's sweaty towels as kid' in wake of US Open incident which involved a CEO snatching a hat from a young boy.

Iga Swaitek, while replying a question about fans wanting game-worn gear of players is strange, says she 'completely understands the behaviour.' The statement came on the back of recent hat stealing incident by a Polish CEO from a young boy in week 1 of the ongoing US Open 2025. While Iga called the incident 'strange' after the video of the moment viral on social media, she admitted that it is hard for players to make every fan happy. The Polish player, although did not shy from acknowledging that she understands such behaviour needing memorabilia from players. Iga on wanting Rafael Nadal's sweaty towels Speaking on the incident after her Round of 16 match, Iga was asked if was strange as a player for her to have fans pushing each other for a piece of game-worn gear, she said: “No, because I would love to have a sweaty towel of Rafa's when I was a kid.” Also Read - US Open: 'Oldest' Djokovic emulates Connors, passes Federer in historic R16 win The honesty from Swiatek, however, still does not justify a grown-up person working a CEO of a company denying a young boy to have the lifelong memorabilia from a player and she called the US Open hat stealing incident 'strange.' How does Swiatek manage fans? The polish player explained the other side of the picture as well and said it is difficult for a player to make everyone happy as well with fans fighting over rails. "Usually, like, seven people reach out for one thing. For example, if it’s a girl and the boys have longer arms, it’s not kind of - she's not going to catch it. But I usually throw, like, at the person that is supposed to get it," Swiatek explained. She, however, agreed that an adult grabbing a thing meant for child is 'not cool.' Swaitek will next face Wimbledon 2025 final opponent Amanda Anisimova in US Open 2025 quarter-final.

Polish player Iga Swiatek acknowledges wanting 'Rafa's sweaty towels as kid' in wake of US Open incident which involved a CEO snatching a hat from a young boy.

US Open CEO hat stealing incident: Swiatek admits wanting 'Rafa's sweaty towels as kid'

Naomi Osaka delivered a statement win at the US Open by thrashing home favourite Coco Gauff in the last 16 on Monday as Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek charged into the quarter-finals. The Japanese star powered past third seed Gauff 6-3, 6-2 in a highly-anticipated but lopsided fourth-round showdown of former US Open champions on the Labor Day holiday in New York. Osaka broke in the very first game in front of an expectant Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd and was untouchable on serve in a ruthless display against a misfiring Gauff, who hit 33 unforced errors.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/-oldest-djokovic-emulates-jimmy-connors-goes-past-federer-and-agassi-in-historic-us-open-2025-r16-win-1756704948883">'Oldest' Djokovic emulates Jimmy Connors, goes past Federer and Agassi in historic US Open R16 win</a>"This is my favourite court in the world and it means so much to me to be back today," said Osaka, who looks primed for a tilt at a fifth Grand Slam."This is kind of uncharted territory at this point of my career," added Osaka. "I'm just enjoying it. I'm having fun."The 27-year-old, a two-time US Open champion, is enjoying her deepest run at a major since winning her second Australian Open title in 2021.It has been a painstaking climb back towards the top of the game for Osaka, who returned to tennis last year following the birth of her daughter in 2023."I was in the stands two months after I gave birth watching Coco and I just really wanted an opportunity to come out here and play," said Osaka, who also beat a 15-year-old Gauff at the US Open in their first meeting in 2019.Gauff conceded the mental toll of a challenging first week and the efforts to remodel her faltering serve had weighed heavily on her."I think emotionally how much this week was, I think today I just stepped in, and I maybe was a little bit empty," she said.Osaka plays Czech 11th seed Karolina Muchova in Wednesday's quarter-finals. Muchova beat Ukrainian 27th seed Marta Kostyuk 6-3, 6-7 (0/7), 6-3 and is seeking a third straight semi-final at Flushing Meadows.Reigning men's champion Sinner obliterated the unpredictable Alexander Bublik 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 in just 81 minutes to start the night session.Bublik, the only player to beat Sinner this season aside from Carlos Alcaraz, had not dropped serve all tournament but was broken eight times by the world number one."He had a very tough match the last match, today he didn't serve as well as he usually serves, and I broke him early," said Sinner. "Overall, I'm very happy."Bublik smiled as he embraced Sinner at the net after the defeat, and could be heard telling the Italian: "You're so good, this is insane."Sinner is trying to become the first man to defend the US Open since Roger Federer won the last of his five successive titles in 2008.He advances to an all-Italian match-up with 10th seed Lorenzo Musetti, who demolished unseeded Spaniard Jaume Munar 6-3, 6-0, 6-1 to reach his first US Open quarter-final.<h2>Swiatek ‘in the zone’</h2>Swiatek brushed off Russian 13th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-3, 6-1 in barely an hour to extend her Grand Slam winning streak to 11 matches as she targets a second US Open crown."I felt like in the beginning she played fast but later on I felt in my bubble, in the zone," said Swiatek.The Polish second seed faces Amanda Anisimova in a repeat of the Wimbledon final, which Swiatek won 6-0, 6-0. The American thumped Brazilian 18th seed Beatriz Haddad 6-0, 6-3.Men's eighth seed Alex de Minaur sealed his passage to the quarter-finals with a 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 win over Swiss qualifier Leandro Riedi.De Minaur put the world number 435 to the sword with eight breaks as he swept into a sixth Grand Slam quarter-final. He has never made it past the last eight though.The Australian next meets Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime, who defeated Andrey Rublev 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 to reach his first Grand Slam quarter-final in three years.Auger-Aliassime's best run at a Grand Slam came when he advanced to the semi-finals of the US Open in 2021."It feels even better than the first time," Auger-Aliassime, 25, said of returning to the last eight in New York."I think the first time at 21 I was kind of on my way up. To have a few setbacks, injuries, struggles with confidence... to come back for a second time to the quarter-finals here, it feels much better."

US Open 2025: Japanese Naomi Osaka beat home-favorite Coco Gauff 6-3, 6-2 in an anti-climatic R16 match at Arthur Ashe stadium in New York on Labour Day. This is Osaka's best performance in a major since winning 2021 Australian Open.

Naomi Osaka delivered a statement win at the US Open by thrashing home favourite Coco Gauff in the last 16 on Monday as Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek charged into the quarter-finals. The Japanese star powered past third seed Gauff 6-3, 6-2 in a highly-anticipated but lopsided fourth-round showdown of former US Open champions on the Labor Day holiday in New York. Osaka broke in the very first game in front of an expectant Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd and was untouchable on serve in a ruthless display against a misfiring Gauff, who hit 33 unforced errors. Also Read - 'Oldest' Djokovic emulates Jimmy Connors, goes past Federer and Agassi in historic US Open R16 win "This is my favourite court in the world and it means so much to me to be back today," said Osaka, who looks primed for a tilt at a fifth Grand Slam. "This is kind of uncharted territory at this point of my career," added Osaka. "I'm just enjoying it. I'm having fun." The 27-year-old, a two-time US Open champion, is enjoying her deepest run at a major since winning her second Australian Open title in 2021. It has been a painstaking climb back towards the top of the game for Osaka, who returned to tennis last year following the birth of her daughter in 2023. "I was in the stands two months after I gave birth watching Coco and I just really wanted an opportunity to come out here and play," said Osaka, who also beat a 15-year-old Gauff at the US Open in their first meeting in 2019. Gauff conceded the mental toll of a challenging first week and the efforts to remodel her faltering serve had weighed heavily on her. "I think emotionally how much this week was, I think today I just stepped in, and I maybe was a little bit empty," she said. Osaka plays Czech 11th seed Karolina Muchova in Wednesday's quarter-finals. Muchova beat Ukrainian 27th seed Marta Kostyuk 6-3, 6-7 (0/7), 6-3 and is seeking a third straight semi-final at Flushing Meadows. Reigning men's champion Sinner obliterated the unpredictable Alexander Bublik 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 in just 81 minutes to start the night session. Bublik, the only player to beat Sinner this season aside from Carlos Alcaraz, had not dropped serve all tournament but was broken eight times by the world number one. "He had a very tough match the last match, today he didn't serve as well as he usually serves, and I broke him early," said Sinner. "Overall, I'm very happy." Bublik smiled as he embraced Sinner at the net after the defeat, and could be heard telling the Italian: "You're so good, this is insane." Sinner is trying to become the first man to defend the US Open since Roger Federer won the last of his five successive titles in 2008. He advances to an all-Italian match-up with 10th seed Lorenzo Musetti, who demolished unseeded Spaniard Jaume Munar 6-3, 6-0, 6-1 to reach his first US Open quarter-final. Swiatek ‘in the zone’ Swiatek brushed off Russian 13th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-3, 6-1 in barely an hour to extend her Grand Slam winning streak to 11 matches as she targets a second US Open crown. "I felt like in the beginning she played fast but later on I felt in my bubble, in the zone," said Swiatek. The Polish second seed faces Amanda Anisimova in a repeat of the Wimbledon final, which Swiatek won 6-0, 6-0. The American thumped Brazilian 18th seed Beatriz Haddad 6-0, 6-3. Men's eighth seed Alex de Minaur sealed his passage to the quarter-finals with a 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 win over Swiss qualifier Leandro Riedi. De Minaur put the world number 435 to the sword with eight breaks as he swept into a sixth Grand Slam quarter-final. He has never made it past the last eight though. The Australian next meets Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime, who defeated Andrey Rublev 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 to reach his first Grand Slam quarter-final in three years. Auger-Aliassime's best run at a Grand Slam came when he advanced to the semi-finals of the US Open in 2021. "It feels even better than the first time," Auger-Aliassime, 25, said of returning to the last eight in New York. "I think the first time at 21 I was kind of on my way up. To have a few setbacks, injuries, struggles with confidence... to come back for a second time to the quarter-finals here, it feels much better."

US Open 2025: Japanese Naomi Osaka beat home-favorite Coco Gauff 6-3, 6-2 in an anti-climatic R16 match at Arthur Ashe stadium in New York on Labour Day. This is Osaka's best performance in a major since winning 2021 Australian Open.

US Open 2025: Osaka, Sinner, Swiatek roll into quarter-finals

Jannik Sinner kept his US Open title defence on track on Saturday (Aug 30) as Iga Swiatek struggled through to the last 16 and home favourite Coco Gauff booked a blockbuster clash with Naomi Osaka. Sinner rallied from a set down to beat Canadian 27th seed Denis Shapovalov 5-7, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 and is trying to become the first man to retain the title in New York since Roger Federer in 2008.&nbsp;"I was in a very difficult moment," said Sinner. "The scoreline was a bit against me today, but I just tried to stay there mentally."&nbsp;World number one Sinner will face Alexander Bublik next after the mercurial Kazakh put out US 14th seed Tommy Paul in a late-night thriller, winning in five sets.&nbsp;"Week two is completely different. It's getting tougher and tougher," said Sinner.&nbsp;Third seed Alexander Zverev fell to his earliest US Open exit in seven years at the hands of an inspired Felix Auger-Aliassime. Canada's Auger-Aliassime belted 50 winners but was a point away from going two sets down before outduelling Zverev 4-6, 7-6 (9/7), 6-4, 6-4.&nbsp;"I didn't play a good match, and not a good tournament in general," said 2020 runner-up Zverev.&nbsp;Auger-Aliassime next takes on Andrey Rublev, who put an end to the fairytale run of Hong Kong's Coleman Wong in five sets.&nbsp;There were three more retirements in the men's draw on Saturday after the injury-induced exit of sixth seed Ben Shelton the day before. Alex de Minaur, Lorenzo Musetti and 435th-ranked Swiss qualifier Leandro Riedi all moved on when their opponents threw in the towel. Eighth seed De Minaur led Daniel Altmaier 6-7 (7/9), 6-3, 6-4, 2-0 when the German retired, while 10th seed Musetti held a two-set lead over Flavio Cobolli before the latter quit because of an arm injury.&nbsp;"I didn't want to finish like that, especially against Flavio. He's probably one of my best friends on tour," said Musetti.&nbsp;Riedi became the lowest-ranked man to reach the fourth round of a major since 2002 as Polish opponent Kamil Majchrzak retired after eight games due to injury.<h3>Swiatek fights back</h3>&nbsp;Swiatek showed great resolve to dig herself out of trouble against Russian 29th seed Anna Kalinskaya under the lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium. The world number two slid 5-1 behind in the opening set but saved four set points and won a tie-break before eventually seeing off Kalinskaya 7-6 (7/2), 6-4. Swiatek, the 2022 US Open champion and six-time major winner, was far from her best but scrambled through to a last-16 meeting with Ekaterina Alexandrova.&nbsp;"I felt like I had nothing to lose because I was losing pretty bad. So in the end I just went for it because what else can you do?" Swiatek said of her fightback.&nbsp;Russian 13th seed Alexandrova has never made it past the fourth round at a Grand Slam but destroyed Laura Siegemund 6-0, 6-1 and has surrendered just 10 games en route to the second week at Flushing Meadows.&nbsp;Gauff swept past Polish 28th seed Magdalena Frech 6-3, 6-1 in her most polished display of the tournament to boost her hopes of collecting a second US Open title. After battling to a tearful victory in the previous round, a much more composed Gauff dispatched Frech with relative ease.&nbsp;"It's been an emotional week, but I think I needed those tough moments to move forward. I was putting so much pressure on myself," said Gauff, through to the last 16 in New York for the fourth year in a row.&nbsp;Gauff heads into a showdown on Monday with former world number one Osaka after the Japanese star beat Australian 15th seed Daria Kasatkina 6-0, 4-6, 6-3.&nbsp;Four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka is enjoying her best US Open showing since winning the tournament for the second time in 2020.&nbsp;The last-16 match will be a repeat of the duo's first meeting at the US Open in 2019, when Osaka overpowered the then 15-year-old Gauff in straight sets.&nbsp;"Everyone will be watching. That's what tennis needs," said Venus Williams, who progressed to round three of the the women's doubles on Saturday with partner Leylah Fernandez.&nbsp;Wimbledon runner-up Amanda Anisimova beat Romania's Jaqueline Cristian 6-4, 4-6, 6-2. Karolina Muchova, Beatriz Haddad Maia and Marta Kostyuk all won as well.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

World number one Sinner will face Alexander Bublik next after the mercurial Kazakh put out US 14th seed Tommy Paul in a late-night thriller, winning in five sets.

Jannik Sinner kept his US Open title defence on track on Saturday (Aug 30) as Iga Swiatek struggled through to the last 16 and home favourite Coco Gauff booked a blockbuster clash with Naomi Osaka. Sinner rallied from a set down to beat Canadian 27th seed Denis Shapovalov 5-7, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 and is trying to become the first man to retain the title in New York since Roger Federer in 2008. "I was in a very difficult moment," said Sinner. "The scoreline was a bit against me today, but I just tried to stay there mentally." World number one Sinner will face Alexander Bublik next after the mercurial Kazakh put out US 14th seed Tommy Paul in a late-night thriller, winning in five sets. "Week two is completely different. It's getting tougher and tougher," said Sinner. Third seed Alexander Zverev fell to his earliest US Open exit in seven years at the hands of an inspired Felix Auger-Aliassime. Canada's Auger-Aliassime belted 50 winners but was a point away from going two sets down before outduelling Zverev 4-6, 7-6 (9/7), 6-4, 6-4. "I didn't play a good match, and not a good tournament in general," said 2020 runner-up Zverev. Auger-Aliassime next takes on Andrey Rublev, who put an end to the fairytale run of Hong Kong's Coleman Wong in five sets. There were three more retirements in the men's draw on Saturday after the injury-induced exit of sixth seed Ben Shelton the day before. Alex de Minaur, Lorenzo Musetti and 435th-ranked Swiss qualifier Leandro Riedi all moved on when their opponents threw in the towel. Eighth seed De Minaur led Daniel Altmaier 6-7 (7/9), 6-3, 6-4, 2-0 when the German retired, while 10th seed Musetti held a two-set lead over Flavio Cobolli before the latter quit because of an arm injury. "I didn't want to finish like that, especially against Flavio. He's probably one of my best friends on tour," said Musetti. Riedi became the lowest-ranked man to reach the fourth round of a major since 2002 as Polish opponent Kamil Majchrzak retired after eight games due to injury. Swiatek fights back Swiatek showed great resolve to dig herself out of trouble against Russian 29th seed Anna Kalinskaya under the lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium. The world number two slid 5-1 behind in the opening set but saved four set points and won a tie-break before eventually seeing off Kalinskaya 7-6 (7/2), 6-4. Swiatek, the 2022 US Open champion and six-time major winner, was far from her best but scrambled through to a last-16 meeting with Ekaterina Alexandrova. "I felt like I had nothing to lose because I was losing pretty bad. So in the end I just went for it because what else can you do?" Swiatek said of her fightback. Russian 13th seed Alexandrova has never made it past the fourth round at a Grand Slam but destroyed Laura Siegemund 6-0, 6-1 and has surrendered just 10 games en route to the second week at Flushing Meadows. Gauff swept past Polish 28th seed Magdalena Frech 6-3, 6-1 in her most polished display of the tournament to boost her hopes of collecting a second US Open title. After battling to a tearful victory in the previous round, a much more composed Gauff dispatched Frech with relative ease. "It's been an emotional week, but I think I needed those tough moments to move forward. I was putting so much pressure on myself," said Gauff, through to the last 16 in New York for the fourth year in a row. Gauff heads into a showdown on Monday with former world number one Osaka after the Japanese star beat Australian 15th seed Daria Kasatkina 6-0, 4-6, 6-3. Four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka is enjoying her best US Open showing since winning the tournament for the second time in 2020. The last-16 match will be a repeat of the duo's first meeting at the US Open in 2019, when Osaka overpowered the then 15-year-old Gauff in straight sets. "Everyone will be watching. That's what tennis needs," said Venus Williams, who progressed to round three of the the women's doubles on Saturday with partner Leylah Fernandez. Wimbledon runner-up Amanda Anisimova beat Romania's Jaqueline Cristian 6-4, 4-6, 6-2. Karolina Muchova, Beatriz Haddad Maia and Marta Kostyuk all won as well. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

World number one Sinner will face Alexander Bublik next after the mercurial Kazakh put out US 14th seed Tommy Paul in a late-night thriller, winning in five sets.

US Open 2025: Sinner, Swiatek advance as Gauff sets up Osaka showdown

Iga Swiatek shrugged off lingering weariness to partner Casper Ruud to back-to-back victories in the revamped mixed doubles competition at the US Open on Tuesday.&nbsp;Swiatek -- who on Monday had battled through a two-hour tussle with Jasmine Paolini to win the Cincinnati Open -- looked full of energy as she and Ruud powered into Wednesday's semi-finals.&nbsp;Swiatek and Ruud needed just 39 minutes to dispatch the US pairing of Madison Keys and Frances Tiafoe 4-1, 4-2 in their opening game at Arthur Ashe Stadium, and then reappeared roughly 20 minutes later to defeat Caty McNally and Lorenzo Musetti 5-3, 4-2 in their quarter-final clash.&nbsp;The victories capped a gruelling 24 hours for Polish star Swiatek, who hot-footed it to the airport after Monday's win in Cincinnati and only arrived at her hotel in New York in the early hours of Tuesday.&nbsp;"Honestly the last two days have felt like one day, but I'm super happy to be here," Swiatek said, adding that her tight turnaround had helped her unwind after her exertions in Cincinnati.&nbsp;"Honestly I think actually it's kind of nice for the recovery," Swiatek said. "To have another task and to not let yourself be lazy but also focused on the next exciting thing."&nbsp;Ruud and Swiatek had just enough time to fit in a quick practice before taking to the court in their first match as a doubles pairing.&nbsp;"I was happy to team up with Iga," Ruud said afterwards. "She's on the winning train these days so I'm just jumping on the train and let's see if we can win some more before the mixed doubles is over.&nbsp;"I think everyone should show some appreciation to Iga today. She only got to her hotel 12 hours ago at 2.30am, and she's here playing."&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-rohit-sharma-to-virat-kohli-here-is-a-look-at-five-indian-batters-with-most-runs-in-asia-cup-odis-t20is-sachin-tendulkar-ms-dhoni-dhawan-1754123070628">From Rohit Sharma to Virat Kohli, 5 Indian batters with most runs in Asia Cup (ODIs + T20Is)</a><h2>Alcaraz, Djokovic out</h2>Swiatek and Ruud will meet top seeds Jessica Pegula of the United States and Britain's Jack Draper in Wednesday's semi-finals.&nbsp;Pegula and Draper clicked smoothly to eliminate the glamour pairing of Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu 4-2, 4-2 in the first round before easing past Russia's Daniil Medvedev and Mirra Andreeva 4-1, 4-1 in the quarter-finals.&nbsp;Medvedev and Andreeva had earlier romped past Novak Djokovic and Olga Danilovic in straight sets in the first round, winning 4-2, 5-3.&nbsp;In other results on Tuesday, US tennis icon Venus Williams and partner Reilly Opelka exited against Karolina Muchova and Andrey Rublev, losing 4-2, 5-4.&nbsp;Italy's reigning champions Andrea Vavassori and Sara Errani ousted second seeds Elena Rybakina and Taylor Fritz 4-2, 4-2.&nbsp;Earlier Tuesday, world number one Jannik Sinner's withdrawal from the mixed doubles was confirmed as expected. Sinner, who retired due to illness in the first set of his Cincinnati Open final with Alcaraz on Monday, was due to partner Katerina Siniakova in the doubles.&nbsp;Sinner and Siniakova were replaced in the draw by the American duo of Danielle Collins and Christian Harrison.&nbsp;This year's US Open mixed doubles competition is being held over Tuesday and Wednesday in the week before the main singles draws get under way.&nbsp;The tournament is using a modified scoring system,&nbsp;with short sets to four games, no-advantage scoring, tiebreakers at four-all and a 10-point match tiebreak in lieu of a third set.&nbsp;The final will be a best-of-three set match to six games, featuring no-advantage scoring, with tiebreakers at six-all and a 10-point match tiebreaker instead of a third set, with the winning pairing pocketing $1 million. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Iga Swiatek -- who on Monday had battled through a two-hour tussle with Jasmine Paolini to win the Cincinnati Open -- looked full of energy as she and Ruud powered into Wednesday's semi-finals.

Iga Swiatek shrugged off lingering weariness to partner Casper Ruud to back-to-back victories in the revamped mixed doubles competition at the US Open on Tuesday. Swiatek -- who on Monday had battled through a two-hour tussle with Jasmine Paolini to win the Cincinnati Open -- looked full of energy as she and Ruud powered into Wednesday's semi-finals. Swiatek and Ruud needed just 39 minutes to dispatch the US pairing of Madison Keys and Frances Tiafoe 4-1, 4-2 in their opening game at Arthur Ashe Stadium, and then reappeared roughly 20 minutes later to defeat Caty McNally and Lorenzo Musetti 5-3, 4-2 in their quarter-final clash. The victories capped a gruelling 24 hours for Polish star Swiatek, who hot-footed it to the airport after Monday's win in Cincinnati and only arrived at her hotel in New York in the early hours of Tuesday. "Honestly the last two days have felt like one day, but I'm super happy to be here," Swiatek said, adding that her tight turnaround had helped her unwind after her exertions in Cincinnati. "Honestly I think actually it's kind of nice for the recovery," Swiatek said. "To have another task and to not let yourself be lazy but also focused on the next exciting thing." Ruud and Swiatek had just enough time to fit in a quick practice before taking to the court in their first match as a doubles pairing. "I was happy to team up with Iga," Ruud said afterwards. "She's on the winning train these days so I'm just jumping on the train and let's see if we can win some more before the mixed doubles is over. "I think everyone should show some appreciation to Iga today. She only got to her hotel 12 hours ago at 2.30am, and she's here playing." ALSO READ | From Rohit Sharma to Virat Kohli, 5 Indian batters with most runs in Asia Cup (ODIs + T20Is) Alcaraz, Djokovic out Swiatek and Ruud will meet top seeds Jessica Pegula of the United States and Britain's Jack Draper in Wednesday's semi-finals. Pegula and Draper clicked smoothly to eliminate the glamour pairing of Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu 4-2, 4-2 in the first round before easing past Russia's Daniil Medvedev and Mirra Andreeva 4-1, 4-1 in the quarter-finals. Medvedev and Andreeva had earlier romped past Novak Djokovic and Olga Danilovic in straight sets in the first round, winning 4-2, 5-3. In other results on Tuesday, US tennis icon Venus Williams and partner Reilly Opelka exited against Karolina Muchova and Andrey Rublev, losing 4-2, 5-4. Italy's reigning champions Andrea Vavassori and Sara Errani ousted second seeds Elena Rybakina and Taylor Fritz 4-2, 4-2. Earlier Tuesday, world number one Jannik Sinner's withdrawal from the mixed doubles was confirmed as expected. Sinner, who retired due to illness in the first set of his Cincinnati Open final with Alcaraz on Monday, was due to partner Katerina Siniakova in the doubles. Sinner and Siniakova were replaced in the draw by the American duo of Danielle Collins and Christian Harrison. This year's US Open mixed doubles competition is being held over Tuesday and Wednesday in the week before the main singles draws get under way. The tournament is using a modified scoring system, with short sets to four games, no-advantage scoring, tiebreakers at four-all and a 10-point match tiebreak in lieu of a third set. The final will be a best-of-three set match to six games, featuring no-advantage scoring, with tiebreakers at six-all and a 10-point match tiebreaker instead of a third set, with the winning pairing pocketing $1 million. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Iga Swiatek -- who on Monday had battled through a two-hour tussle with Jasmine Paolini to win the Cincinnati Open -- looked full of energy as she and Ruud powered into Wednesday's semi-finals.

Iga Swiatek, Casper Ruud romp into US Open mixed doubles semis; Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic out

Iga Swiatek filled in a piece of her career tennis puzzle on Monday as she won the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Open for the first time with a 7-5, 6-4 defeat of Jasmine Paolini. The final lasting for just under two hours featured 16 break-point chances, with the Polish winner converting on six of 10 while Paolini struggled to make the most of her break opportunities.&nbsp;The six-time Grand Slam singles champion's 11th career win at the WTA 1000 level has left her within striking distance of the all-time record of 13 titles held by Serena Williams. Swiatek won the Cincinnati without dropping a set.&nbsp;The 24-year-old backed up her breakthrough Wimbledon trophy with the Midwest honours and now heads to the last Grand Slam of the season at the US Open with a major confidence boost after the 24th title of her career.&nbsp;Swiatek also climbed to within 500 points of current WTA number one Aryna Sabalenka, with the lead at the top of the table likely to be in play at the Open when it begins on Sunday.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-rohit-sharma-to-virat-kohli-here-is-a-look-at-five-indian-batters-with-most-runs-in-asia-cup-odis-t20is-sachin-tendulkar-ms-dhoni-dhawan-1754123070628">From Rohit Sharma to Virat Kohli, 5 Indian batters with most runs in Asia Cup (ODIs + T20Is)</a>&nbsp;Swiatek had stalled twice at the last two editions at the semi-final stage and now has only the Canadian tournament where she has not reached the final at a 1000 event.&nbsp;Swiatek began on the wrong foot as she lost serve to trail 0-3. But the situation was only temporary as the former number one immediately began her turnaround.&nbsp;The Pole answered immediately with two breaks of serve and moved to a 5-3 leadBut Paolini earned another break in the 10th game, saving a Swiatek set point to square the final at five-all.&nbsp;Paolini dropped serve for 5-6, giving her opponent the chance to produce a love game and claim the opener 7-5 after just under an hour on court.&nbsp;The second set was a roller coaster, with the pair twice swapping breaks of serve before Swiatek salvaged a pair of break points to lead 5-3 and then serving out the winner two games later.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Iga Swiatek climbed to within 500 points of current WTA number one Aryna Sabalenka, with the lead at the top of the table likely to be in play at the US Open when it begins on Sunday.

Iga Swiatek filled in a piece of her career tennis puzzle on Monday as she won the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Open for the first time with a 7-5, 6-4 defeat of Jasmine Paolini. The final lasting for just under two hours featured 16 break-point chances, with the Polish winner converting on six of 10 while Paolini struggled to make the most of her break opportunities. The six-time Grand Slam singles champion's 11th career win at the WTA 1000 level has left her within striking distance of the all-time record of 13 titles held by Serena Williams. Swiatek won the Cincinnati without dropping a set. The 24-year-old backed up her breakthrough Wimbledon trophy with the Midwest honours and now heads to the last Grand Slam of the season at the US Open with a major confidence boost after the 24th title of her career. Swiatek also climbed to within 500 points of current WTA number one Aryna Sabalenka, with the lead at the top of the table likely to be in play at the Open when it begins on Sunday. ALSO READ | From Rohit Sharma to Virat Kohli, 5 Indian batters with most runs in Asia Cup (ODIs + T20Is) Swiatek had stalled twice at the last two editions at the semi-final stage and now has only the Canadian tournament where she has not reached the final at a 1000 event. Swiatek began on the wrong foot as she lost serve to trail 0-3. But the situation was only temporary as the former number one immediately began her turnaround. The Pole answered immediately with two breaks of serve and moved to a 5-3 lead But Paolini earned another break in the 10th game, saving a Swiatek set point to square the final at five-all. Paolini dropped serve for 5-6, giving her opponent the chance to produce a love game and claim the opener 7-5 after just under an hour on court. The second set was a roller coaster, with the pair twice swapping breaks of serve before Swiatek salvaged a pair of break points to lead 5-3 and then serving out the winner two games later. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Iga Swiatek climbed to within 500 points of current WTA number one Aryna Sabalenka, with the lead at the top of the table likely to be in play at the US Open when it begins on Sunday.

Cincinnati Open: Iga Swiatek beats Jasmine Paolini to clinch WTA title

Iga Swiatek reached the final of the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Open for the first time on Sunday, surging past Elena Rybakina 7-5, 6-3 to book a title clash with Jasmine Paolini. The six-time Grand Slam champion earned a Monday evening final against an opponent with nothing to lose after Paolini managed to "forget" a patch of bad form to claim a 6-3, 6-7 (2/7), 6-3 win over Russian Veronika Kudermetova.&nbsp;The 29-year-old, who was a two-time Grand Slam finalist in 2024, will bid for the fourth title of her career when she faces Swiatek, who is set to compete in her 13th final at the 1000 level as she closes in on a return to world number two.&nbsp;Swiatek, the reigning Wimbledon champion, recovered an early break in the opening set and powered away to beat 2022 All England winner Rybakina -- who had swept past world number one and defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in the quarter-finals.&nbsp;The former world number one from Poland now ranked third, had twice stalled at the semi-final stage at the pre-US Open event, but booked her title chance on her third opportunity.&nbsp;"It was a great match, and at the beginning, I was even surprised that I'm able to keep up with the pace, because we played so fast," Swiatek said.&nbsp;"I wanted to be there when Elena starts making mistakes. It's impossible to play such a good level throughout the whole match."&nbsp;Swiatek recovered from 3-5 down in the opening set, sweeping the last four games.She jumped to a 4-1 lead in the second, sandwiching a pair of love service games around a break of Rybakina's serve.&nbsp;But Kazakhstan's Rybakina made her work for it, fending off three break points in the sixth game and saving a pair of match points in the eighth before Swiatek closed it out a game later.&nbsp;"I was playing with intensity and quality," Swiatek said. "I feel good about my game right now and would not change anything."&nbsp;Swiatek has beaten Paolini in all five of their prior meetings with the Italian winning just one set.&nbsp;But Swiatek said she was prepared for a tough final against a player who beat world number two Coco Gauff in the quarter-finals.&nbsp;"Anyone who is there will have been playing well," she said.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-rohit-sharma-to-virat-kohli-here-is-a-look-at-five-indian-batters-with-most-runs-in-asia-cup-odis-t20is-sachin-tendulkar-ms-dhoni-dhawan-1754123070628">From Rohit Sharma to Virat Kohli, 5 Indian batters with most runs in Asia Cup (ODIs + T20Is)</a><h2>Keep fighting</h2>Before her 6-0, 6-0 Wimbledon final win over Amanda Anisimova last month, Swiatek had been in a trophy drought with her last prior title coming in June 2024 at Roland Garros.Another victory on Monday would be a strong springboard into the US Open, where first-round play starts on August 24.&nbsp;Paolini looked headed to a straight-set victory but failed to serve out her match at 5-4 in the second set and admitted the lapse left her nervous.&nbsp;"The key was to forget, get back into the fight and stay in the present," Paolini said after wrapping up the win in two and a quarter hours.&nbsp;"I was fighting in the second set and all was fine. But I got nervous and thought I would lose the tiebreaker.&nbsp;"I came back onto court in the third set trying not to think about what had happened. You have to keep going."&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Iga Swiatek, the reigning Wimbledon champion, recovered an early break in the opening set and powered away to beat 2022 All England winner Rybakina -- who had swept past world number one and defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in the quarter-finals.

Iga Swiatek reached the final of the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Open for the first time on Sunday, surging past Elena Rybakina 7-5, 6-3 to book a title clash with Jasmine Paolini. The six-time Grand Slam champion earned a Monday evening final against an opponent with nothing to lose after Paolini managed to "forget" a patch of bad form to claim a 6-3, 6-7 (2/7), 6-3 win over Russian Veronika Kudermetova. The 29-year-old, who was a two-time Grand Slam finalist in 2024, will bid for the fourth title of her career when she faces Swiatek, who is set to compete in her 13th final at the 1000 level as she closes in on a return to world number two. Swiatek, the reigning Wimbledon champion, recovered an early break in the opening set and powered away to beat 2022 All England winner Rybakina -- who had swept past world number one and defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in the quarter-finals. The former world number one from Poland now ranked third, had twice stalled at the semi-final stage at the pre-US Open event, but booked her title chance on her third opportunity. "It was a great match, and at the beginning, I was even surprised that I'm able to keep up with the pace, because we played so fast," Swiatek said. "I wanted to be there when Elena starts making mistakes. It's impossible to play such a good level throughout the whole match." Swiatek recovered from 3-5 down in the opening set, sweeping the last four games. She jumped to a 4-1 lead in the second, sandwiching a pair of love service games around a break of Rybakina's serve. But Kazakhstan's Rybakina made her work for it, fending off three break points in the sixth game and saving a pair of match points in the eighth before Swiatek closed it out a game later. "I was playing with intensity and quality," Swiatek said. "I feel good about my game right now and would not change anything." Swiatek has beaten Paolini in all five of their prior meetings with the Italian winning just one set. But Swiatek said she was prepared for a tough final against a player who beat world number two Coco Gauff in the quarter-finals. "Anyone who is there will have been playing well," she said. ALSO READ | From Rohit Sharma to Virat Kohli, 5 Indian batters with most runs in Asia Cup (ODIs + T20Is) Keep fighting Before her 6-0, 6-0 Wimbledon final win over Amanda Anisimova last month, Swiatek had been in a trophy drought with her last prior title coming in June 2024 at Roland Garros. Another victory on Monday would be a strong springboard into the US Open, where first-round play starts on August 24. Paolini looked headed to a straight-set victory but failed to serve out her match at 5-4 in the second set and admitted the lapse left her nervous. "The key was to forget, get back into the fight and stay in the present," Paolini said after wrapping up the win in two and a quarter hours. "I was fighting in the second set and all was fine. But I got nervous and thought I would lose the tiebreaker. "I came back onto court in the third set trying not to think about what had happened. You have to keep going." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Iga Swiatek, the reigning Wimbledon champion, recovered an early break in the opening set and powered away to beat 2022 All England winner Rybakina -- who had swept past world number one and defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in the quarter-finals.

Cincinnati Open: Iga Swiatek swamps Elena Rybakina in semis, to face Jasmine Paolini in final

Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek became the latest seed to fall at the WTA Canadian Open on Sunday (Aug 3), stunned 7-6 (7/1), 6-3 by 19th-ranked Dane Clara Tauson in the fourth round. Swiatek, ranked third in the world and seeded second in Montreal, followed top-seeded Coco Gauff, third-seeded two-time defending champion Jessica Pegula and fourth-seeded Mirra Andreeva out the door. Fifth-seeded American Amanada Anisimova followed later with a straight-sets loss to Elina Svitolina. Tauson avenged a fourth-round loss to Swiatek at Wimbledon and called her second career victory over a top-five player "unreal".&nbsp;"Obviously it's really great and it shows all the hard work I've been doing has been the right thing," Tauson said. "I'm getting more confidence in this kind of level and feeling like I belong here a bit more. I think that really helped me today in the important points."&nbsp;Tauson booked a quarter-final berth against Australian Open champion Madison Keys, who saved two match points on the way to a 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory over Czech Karolina Muchova.&nbsp;It was the American's third match win of the year in which she overcame a match point.&nbsp;Meanwhile, it was clear sailing for former world number one Naomi Osaka, who needed just 49 minutes to blast past Anastasija Sevastova 6-1, 6-0.The second-quickest win of Osaka's career put her into her first quarter-final at the 1000 or Grand Slam level since Doha in 2024.&nbsp;Swiatek, playing her first tournament since winning her sixth Grand Slam title at the All England Club last month, looked out of sorts from the start on a breezy centre court.&nbsp;She fell behind a quick break and failed to convert a pair of break chances in the eighth game as Tauson took a 5-3 lead in the first set.&nbsp;The Polish star appeared to be finding her rhythm as she won the next three games to get her nose in front 6-5.&nbsp;But Tauson, who won her third WTA title and her first since 2021 in New Zealand in January, held to force the tiebreaker and dominated, Swiatek surrendering the set with a double fault on the Dane's first set point.&nbsp;Swiatek had saved a pair of break points in the eighth game of the second set when another untimely double fault gave Tauson the break and a 5-3 lead.&nbsp;Tauson calmly served it out, claiming the victory when Swiatek belted a backhand into the net.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.&nbsp;

Swiatek, playing her first tournament since winning her sixth Grand Slam title at the All England Club last month, looked out of sorts from the start on a breezy centre court.

Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek became the latest seed to fall at the WTA Canadian Open on Sunday (Aug 3), stunned 7-6 (7/1), 6-3 by 19th-ranked Dane Clara Tauson in the fourth round. Swiatek, ranked third in the world and seeded second in Montreal, followed top-seeded Coco Gauff, third-seeded two-time defending champion Jessica Pegula and fourth-seeded Mirra Andreeva out the door. Fifth-seeded American Amanada Anisimova followed later with a straight-sets loss to Elina Svitolina. Tauson avenged a fourth-round loss to Swiatek at Wimbledon and called her second career victory over a top-five player "unreal". "Obviously it's really great and it shows all the hard work I've been doing has been the right thing," Tauson said. "I'm getting more confidence in this kind of level and feeling like I belong here a bit more. I think that really helped me today in the important points." Tauson booked a quarter-final berth against Australian Open champion Madison Keys, who saved two match points on the way to a 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory over Czech Karolina Muchova. It was the American's third match win of the year in which she overcame a match point. Meanwhile, it was clear sailing for former world number one Naomi Osaka, who needed just 49 minutes to blast past Anastasija Sevastova 6-1, 6-0. The second-quickest win of Osaka's career put her into her first quarter-final at the 1000 or Grand Slam level since Doha in 2024. Swiatek, playing her first tournament since winning her sixth Grand Slam title at the All England Club last month, looked out of sorts from the start on a breezy centre court. She fell behind a quick break and failed to convert a pair of break chances in the eighth game as Tauson took a 5-3 lead in the first set. The Polish star appeared to be finding her rhythm as she won the next three games to get her nose in front 6-5. But Tauson, who won her third WTA title and her first since 2021 in New Zealand in January, held to force the tiebreaker and dominated, Swiatek surrendering the set with a double fault on the Dane's first set point. Swiatek had saved a pair of break points in the eighth game of the second set when another untimely double fault gave Tauson the break and a 5-3 lead. Tauson calmly served it out, claiming the victory when Swiatek belted a backhand into the net. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

Swiatek, playing her first tournament since winning her sixth Grand Slam title at the All England Club last month, looked out of sorts from the start on a breezy centre court.

Tennis: Swiatek crashes out of WTA Canadian Open, Japan’s Osaka races through

Anastasija Sevastova stunned two-time defending champion Jessica Pegula 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 on Friday to book a fourth-round clash with Naomi Osaka at the WTA Canadian Open.&nbsp;Sevastova, a former world No. 11 now ranked 386th, snapped fourth-ranked Pegula's 11-match WTA Canada win streak, the longest since Serena Williams reeled off 14 consecutive wins in 2011, 2013 and 2014.&nbsp;She will try to extend her Montreal run in a round of 16 meeting with Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion from Japan who ousted another Latvian, 22nd seed Jelena Ostapenko, 6-2, 6-4.&nbsp;"Somehow, I was down 2-0 in the second set and started to play better and better," Sevastova said. "Third set I played really good.&nbsp;"Just trying to stay on the court as long as possible," added Sevastova, who has dealt with injury since returning from maternity leave in February 2024.&nbsp;In the night session, second-seeded Iga Swiatek -- playing her first tournament since winning Wimbledon -- raced into the fourth round with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Germany's Eva Lys.&nbsp;Swiatek next faces Denmark's Clara Tauson, who beat Yuliia Starodubtseva 6-3, 6-0.&nbsp;Pegula, last year's US Open runner-up in her best Slam showing, was the first woman to win back to back Canadian Open titles since Martina Hingis in 1999-2000.&nbsp;But she has struggled in recent months, dropping her openers at Wimbledon and at Washington last week.&nbsp;The American broke to open the match and again at love to claim the first set.&nbsp;But she couldn't maintain an early break in the second, with Sevastova breaking for a 5-4 lead and denying Pegula on three break chances before holding in the final game to force a third set in which she seized a 4-1 lead on the way to victory.<h2>Weird match</h2>"It was a weird match for me," Pegula said. "I felt like I had total control and then I just played a couple of terrible games for, like, three games.&nbsp;"That totally flipped the momentum of the match, and I went from being up a set and 2-0 to being down very quickly.&nbsp;"I don't really feel like I'm playing great tennis," Pegula admitted. "At times I am, but I feel very up and down, kind of sloppy, which I don't like. I've got to figure it out."&nbsp;Osaka, twice a winner at both the US and Australian Opens, is one match away from her first quarter-final run at either a Grand Slam or WTA 1000 event since she returned from maternity leave at the start of 2024.&nbsp;Now ranked 49th, Osaka broke on a double fault to capture the first set in 30 minutes and raced to a 3-1 lead in the second.&nbsp;They exchanged breaks before Osaka served for the match with a 5-3 lead, but Ostapenko saved a match point on a forehand crosscourt winner and broke when Osaka sent a forehand beyond the baseline.&nbsp;The Japanese star responded by breaking Ostapenko at love in the final game.&nbsp;"I went in there knowing she's a great player and if I give her a chance she's going to hit a winner on me, so I just tried to keep my pace and stay as solid as I could," Osaka said.&nbsp;Australian Open champion Madison Keys, seeded sixth, beat fellow American Caty McNally 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 and will next meet Karolina Muchova, a 6-7 (2/7), 6-2, 6-3 winner over Belinda Bencic.&nbsp;Fifth-seeded American Amanda Anisimova, regrouping this week after a crushing 6-0, 6-0 loss to Swiatek in the Wimbledon final, swept past Britain's Emma Raducanu 6-2, 6-1.&nbsp;She lined up a meeting with Ukrainian Elina Svitolina, who beat Russian Anna Kalinskaya 6-1, 6-1.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Anastasija Sevastova, a former world No. 11 now ranked 386th, snapped fourth-ranked Jessica Pegula's 11-match WTA Canada win streak, the longest since Serena Williams reeled off 14 consecutive wins in 2011, 2013 and 2014.

Anastasija Sevastova stunned two-time defending champion Jessica Pegula 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 on Friday to book a fourth-round clash with Naomi Osaka at the WTA Canadian Open. Sevastova, a former world No. 11 now ranked 386th, snapped fourth-ranked Pegula's 11-match WTA Canada win streak, the longest since Serena Williams reeled off 14 consecutive wins in 2011, 2013 and 2014. She will try to extend her Montreal run in a round of 16 meeting with Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion from Japan who ousted another Latvian, 22nd seed Jelena Ostapenko, 6-2, 6-4. "Somehow, I was down 2-0 in the second set and started to play better and better," Sevastova said. "Third set I played really good. "Just trying to stay on the court as long as possible," added Sevastova, who has dealt with injury since returning from maternity leave in February 2024. In the night session, second-seeded Iga Swiatek -- playing her first tournament since winning Wimbledon -- raced into the fourth round with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Germany's Eva Lys. Swiatek next faces Denmark's Clara Tauson, who beat Yuliia Starodubtseva 6-3, 6-0. Pegula, last year's US Open runner-up in her best Slam showing, was the first woman to win back to back Canadian Open titles since Martina Hingis in 1999-2000. But she has struggled in recent months, dropping her openers at Wimbledon and at Washington last week. The American broke to open the match and again at love to claim the first set. But she couldn't maintain an early break in the second, with Sevastova breaking for a 5-4 lead and denying Pegula on three break chances before holding in the final game to force a third set in which she seized a 4-1 lead on the way to victory. Weird match "It was a weird match for me," Pegula said. "I felt like I had total control and then I just played a couple of terrible games for, like, three games. "That totally flipped the momentum of the match, and I went from being up a set and 2-0 to being down very quickly. "I don't really feel like I'm playing great tennis," Pegula admitted. "At times I am, but I feel very up and down, kind of sloppy, which I don't like. I've got to figure it out." Osaka, twice a winner at both the US and Australian Opens, is one match away from her first quarter-final run at either a Grand Slam or WTA 1000 event since she returned from maternity leave at the start of 2024. Now ranked 49th, Osaka broke on a double fault to capture the first set in 30 minutes and raced to a 3-1 lead in the second. They exchanged breaks before Osaka served for the match with a 5-3 lead, but Ostapenko saved a match point on a forehand crosscourt winner and broke when Osaka sent a forehand beyond the baseline. The Japanese star responded by breaking Ostapenko at love in the final game. "I went in there knowing she's a great player and if I give her a chance she's going to hit a winner on me, so I just tried to keep my pace and stay as solid as I could," Osaka said. Australian Open champion Madison Keys, seeded sixth, beat fellow American Caty McNally 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 and will next meet Karolina Muchova, a 6-7 (2/7), 6-2, 6-3 winner over Belinda Bencic. Fifth-seeded American Amanda Anisimova, regrouping this week after a crushing 6-0, 6-0 loss to Swiatek in the Wimbledon final, swept past Britain's Emma Raducanu 6-2, 6-1. She lined up a meeting with Ukrainian Elina Svitolina, who beat Russian Anna Kalinskaya 6-1, 6-1. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Anastasija Sevastova, a former world No. 11 now ranked 386th, snapped fourth-ranked Jessica Pegula's 11-match WTA Canada win streak, the longest since Serena Williams reeled off 14 consecutive wins in 2011, 2013 and 2014.

Anastasija Sevastova topples Jessica Pegula to book date with Naomi Osaka; Iga Swiatek advances in Montreal

Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek cruised, Naomi Osaka battled through, and Canadian Eugenie Bouchard called time on her WTA career with a gutsy second-round loss in Montreal on Wednesday (Jul 30). Switzerland's Belinda Bencic sent Bouchard into retirement with a 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 victory -- but not before the Canadian thrilled her hometown fans by seizing an early break in the third set. Spectators were on their feet, trying to will Bouchard to another victory on the heels of her first-round triumph on Monday -- her first WTA win since 2023. But Bencic won five of the last six games to vanquish Bouchard, who had announced earlier in July she would retire after a final appearance in her home tournament.&nbsp;"I think it's so special to play my last match here in Montreal on this court in front of you guys," a teary Bouchard said as she was honoured on court after the match. "I remember being a little kid sitting in these stands, hoping and dreaming that I would play on this court one day.&nbsp;"I grew up playing on these courts, and courts all around Montreal and near here, so it feels like such a full circle moment to finish my career here."&nbsp;Bouchard, who rose as high as fifth in the world rankings, shot to prominence in 2014 when she reached the Wimbledon final and made semi-final runs at the Australian and French Opens. But her career was hindered by injuries, including a concussion suffered in a locker room slip at the 2015 US Open and a shoulder injury that required surgery in 2021.<h3>Swiatek sails through</h3>&nbsp;There was no drama for Poland's Swiatek, who breezed past Chinese qualifier Guo Hanyu 6-3, 6-1 in her first match since her crushing victory over Amanda Anisimova in the Wimbledon final.&nbsp;Swiatek, seeded second, broke Guo's serve six times to book her spot in the third round.&nbsp;It was much harder going for Japan's four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka, who saved two match points in a 4-6, 7-6 (8/6) 6-3 triumph over Liudmila Samsonova.&nbsp;Osaka, now working with Tomasz Wiktorowski after announcing on Monday she had split with coach Patrick Mouratoglou, surrendered early breaks in each of the first two sets.&nbsp;Wimbledon quarter-finalist Samsonova served for the match at 5-4 in the second and led 40-15. The Russian fired a forehand long on her first match point, and on her second, a lacklustre drop shot effort gave Osaka an opening, and the Japanese star pounced.&nbsp;Samsonova's double fault on break point allowed Osaka to level the set, and after storming back from 5-2 down in the tiebreaker to force a third set, Osaka took control early, breaking Samsonova twice on the way to a 4-1 lead.&nbsp;"She definitely came out really hard and, for me, I was definitely overwhelmed and I didn't know if I should also be hitting winners," Osaka said. "After a while, I just tried to keep the ball in court."&nbsp;Jessica Pegula, the two-time defending champion and third seed, saved five set points in the opening set on the way to a 7-5, 6-4 victory over Maria Sakkari of Greece.&nbsp;Australian Open champion Madison Keys, the sixth seed, opened her campaign with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Laura Siegemund, avenging a third-round loss to the German at Wimbledon.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

Spectators were on their feet, trying to will Bouchard to another victory on the heels of her first-round triumph on Monday -- her first WTA win since 2023.

Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek cruised, Naomi Osaka battled through, and Canadian Eugenie Bouchard called time on her WTA career with a gutsy second-round loss in Montreal on Wednesday (Jul 30). Switzerland's Belinda Bencic sent Bouchard into retirement with a 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 victory -- but not before the Canadian thrilled her hometown fans by seizing an early break in the third set. Spectators were on their feet, trying to will Bouchard to another victory on the heels of her first-round triumph on Monday -- her first WTA win since 2023. But Bencic won five of the last six games to vanquish Bouchard, who had announced earlier in July she would retire after a final appearance in her home tournament. "I think it's so special to play my last match here in Montreal on this court in front of you guys," a teary Bouchard said as she was honoured on court after the match. "I remember being a little kid sitting in these stands, hoping and dreaming that I would play on this court one day. "I grew up playing on these courts, and courts all around Montreal and near here, so it feels like such a full circle moment to finish my career here." Bouchard, who rose as high as fifth in the world rankings, shot to prominence in 2014 when she reached the Wimbledon final and made semi-final runs at the Australian and French Opens. But her career was hindered by injuries, including a concussion suffered in a locker room slip at the 2015 US Open and a shoulder injury that required surgery in 2021. Swiatek sails through There was no drama for Poland's Swiatek, who breezed past Chinese qualifier Guo Hanyu 6-3, 6-1 in her first match since her crushing victory over Amanda Anisimova in the Wimbledon final. Swiatek, seeded second, broke Guo's serve six times to book her spot in the third round. It was much harder going for Japan's four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka, who saved two match points in a 4-6, 7-6 (8/6) 6-3 triumph over Liudmila Samsonova. Osaka, now working with Tomasz Wiktorowski after announcing on Monday she had split with coach Patrick Mouratoglou, surrendered early breaks in each of the first two sets. Wimbledon quarter-finalist Samsonova served for the match at 5-4 in the second and led 40-15. The Russian fired a forehand long on her first match point, and on her second, a lacklustre drop shot effort gave Osaka an opening, and the Japanese star pounced. Samsonova's double fault on break point allowed Osaka to level the set, and after storming back from 5-2 down in the tiebreaker to force a third set, Osaka took control early, breaking Samsonova twice on the way to a 4-1 lead. "She definitely came out really hard and, for me, I was definitely overwhelmed and I didn't know if I should also be hitting winners," Osaka said. "After a while, I just tried to keep the ball in court." Jessica Pegula, the two-time defending champion and third seed, saved five set points in the opening set on the way to a 7-5, 6-4 victory over Maria Sakkari of Greece. Australian Open champion Madison Keys, the sixth seed, opened her campaign with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Laura Siegemund, avenging a third-round loss to the German at Wimbledon. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

Spectators were on their feet, trying to will Bouchard to another victory on the heels of her first-round triumph on Monday -- her first WTA win since 2023.

Wimbledon champion Swiatek cruises, Osaka battles and Bouchard says goodbye in Montreal

Wimbledon's controversial expansion plan is set to go ahead after a legal challenge against the decision to approve the proposal was dismissed by a High Court judge on Monday. The 'Save Wimbledon Park' campaign group took action against the Greater London Authority's decision last year to grant a planning permission that would almost triple the size of the site for the grass-court Grand Slam. The proposals would see the construction of 38 new tennis courts and an 8,000-seat stadium on the grounds of the former Wimbledon Park Golf Club, which would allow it to host All England Club qualifiers on site instead of across south London at Roehampton.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/-indians-are-being-treated-very-unfairly-trump-demands-washington-and-cleveland-teams-to-return-to-old-monikers-1753103898329">Trump demands Washington and Cleveland teams to return to old monikers</a>The campaign group's barristers told the High Court earlier this month that the decision to approve the plans was "irrational" and should be quashed, as Wimbledon Park was covered by restrictions on how it could be used.But Wimbledon chiefs defended the challenge, with the court told that the decision was a "planning judgement properly exercised" and that the restrictions were not "material".In a ruling on Monday, Justice Saini dismissed the challenge."In short, the defendant's decision on the relevance of deliverability, applying to both the statutory trust and the restrictive covenants, was a planning judgement rationally exercised and having regard to appropriate and relevant factors," he said.Planning permission for the scheme was initially granted by Jules Pipe, London's deputy mayor for planning, who said that the proposals "would facilitate very significant benefits" which "clearly outweigh the harm".Following Monday's High Court ruling, the campaign group said it had been "advised that it should" seek to challenge the decision."SWP is not taking this step lightly but believes that the GLA did make a significant legal error in the way it dealt with the special legal status of the park," a statement said.The latest edition of Wimbledon concluded on July 13, with Jannik Sinner winning the men's title and Iga Swiatek lifting the women's trophy.Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.&nbsp;

The campaign group's barristers told the High Court earlier this month that the decision to approve the plans was "irrational" and should be quashed, as Wimbledon Park was covered by restrictions on how it could be used.

Wimbledon's controversial expansion plan is set to go ahead after a legal challenge against the decision to approve the proposal was dismissed by a High Court judge on Monday. The 'Save Wimbledon Park' campaign group took action against the Greater London Authority's decision last year to grant a planning permission that would almost triple the size of the site for the grass-court Grand Slam. The proposals would see the construction of 38 new tennis courts and an 8,000-seat stadium on the grounds of the former Wimbledon Park Golf Club, which would allow it to host All England Club qualifiers on site instead of across south London at Roehampton. Also Read: Trump demands Washington and Cleveland teams to return to old monikers The campaign group's barristers told the High Court earlier this month that the decision to approve the plans was "irrational" and should be quashed, as Wimbledon Park was covered by restrictions on how it could be used. But Wimbledon chiefs defended the challenge, with the court told that the decision was a "planning judgement properly exercised" and that the restrictions were not "material". In a ruling on Monday, Justice Saini dismissed the challenge. "In short, the defendant's decision on the relevance of deliverability, applying to both the statutory trust and the restrictive covenants, was a planning judgement rationally exercised and having regard to appropriate and relevant factors," he said. Planning permission for the scheme was initially granted by Jules Pipe, London's deputy mayor for planning, who said that the proposals "would facilitate very significant benefits" which "clearly outweigh the harm". Following Monday's High Court ruling, the campaign group said it had been "advised that it should" seek to challenge the decision. "SWP is not taking this step lightly but believes that the GLA did make a significant legal error in the way it dealt with the special legal status of the park," a statement said. The latest edition of Wimbledon concluded on July 13, with Jannik Sinner winning the men's title and Iga Swiatek lifting the women's trophy. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

The campaign group's barristers told the High Court earlier this month that the decision to approve the plans was "irrational" and should be quashed, as Wimbledon Park was covered by restrictions on how it could be used.

Wimbledon expansion plans get go ahead from High Court

Iga Swiatek scripted history by becoming the first player to win a Wimbledon ladies' singles final with a double bagel in the Open Era. Swiatek defeated American Amanda Anisimova to win 2025 Championship title with the scoreline of 6-0,6-0 to get her hands on the silverware. Seeded eighth in the tournament, Iga dropped just one set to claim her maiden title at Wimbledon and sixth grand slam overall. Earlier, Amanda had stunned the sports fraternity by defeating tournament seed 1, Aryna Sabalenka, in the semi-final. As Swiatek is having time of her life, let's know the first woman who had beaten Swiatek in 2019 at the All England Lawn Tennis Club in southwest London.&nbsp;Back in 2019, Switzerland's Viktorija Golubic had defeated Swiatek in straight sets with the scoreline of 6-2, 7-6(7-3) on Court 11 at the All England Club. Looking at this, you might have had a question in your mind.<h2>Who is Viktorija Golubic?</h2>&nbsp;Well, Golubic is a Swiss tennis player currently seeded no. 85 in the world. She began playing at the age of five, inspired by her sister and legendary Monica Seles (nine-time grand slam winner, former no.1), even copying her by hitting two-handed on both sides until the age of 11. Born to Serbian and Croatian parents, Golubic speaks four languages: German, English, Serbian and Croatian.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cast-from-the-past-the-only-time-wimbledon-broke-its-all-white-rule-for-players-know-more-1751525019321">Cast from the Past: The only time players wore non-white kits at Wimbledon court | Know More</a>&nbsp;Her career took off in 2016 when she won her maiden WTA title in Gstaad, where she edged past then-seeded third Kiki Bertens with a scoreline of 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. Eight years later, she lifted her second WTA trophy in Jiujiang, where she defeated Rebecca Šramková in straight sets (6-3, 7-5) and followed it up with a WTA 125 title in Limoges to close out the 2024 season strongly. Golubic also won a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics in doubles with Belinda Bencic and cracked the top 50 WTA rankings in 2021.&nbsp;She reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon 2021 and famously handed Iga Swiatek her first-ever singles loss at the All England Club back in 2019. Currently seeded 85, Gobulik will look to make it strong at Flushing Meadows after first-round heartbreak at the SW19.

As Swiatek is having her time of life, let's know the first woman who had beaten Swiatek in 2019 at the All England Lawn Tennis Club in southwest London.

Iga Swiatek scripted history by becoming the first player to win a Wimbledon ladies' singles final with a double bagel in the Open Era. Swiatek defeated American Amanda Anisimova to win 2025 Championship title with the scoreline of 6-0,6-0 to get her hands on the silverware. Seeded eighth in the tournament, Iga dropped just one set to claim her maiden title at Wimbledon and sixth grand slam overall. Earlier, Amanda had stunned the sports fraternity by defeating tournament seed 1, Aryna Sabalenka, in the semi-final. As Swiatek is having time of her life, let's know the first woman who had beaten Swiatek in 2019 at the All England Lawn Tennis Club in southwest London. Back in 2019, Switzerland's Viktorija Golubic had defeated Swiatek in straight sets with the scoreline of 6-2, 7-6(7-3) on Court 11 at the All England Club. Looking at this, you might have had a question in your mind. Who is Viktorija Golubic? Well, Golubic is a Swiss tennis player currently seeded no. 85 in the world. She began playing at the age of five, inspired by her sister and legendary Monica Seles (nine-time grand slam winner, former no.1), even copying her by hitting two-handed on both sides until the age of 11. Born to Serbian and Croatian parents, Golubic speaks four languages: German, English, Serbian and Croatian. Also read | Cast from the Past: The only time players wore non-white kits at Wimbledon court | Know More Her career took off in 2016 when she won her maiden WTA title in Gstaad, where she edged past then-seeded third Kiki Bertens with a scoreline of 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. Eight years later, she lifted her second WTA trophy in Jiujiang, where she defeated Rebecca Šramková in straight sets (6-3, 7-5) and followed it up with a WTA 125 title in Limoges to close out the 2024 season strongly. Golubic also won a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics in doubles with Belinda Bencic and cracked the top 50 WTA rankings in 2021. She reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon 2021 and famously handed Iga Swiatek her first-ever singles loss at the All England Club back in 2019. Currently seeded 85, Gobulik will look to make it strong at Flushing Meadows after first-round heartbreak at the SW19.

As Swiatek is having her time of life, let's know the first woman who had beaten Swiatek in 2019 at the All England Lawn Tennis Club in southwest London.

Who is the first woman to defeat Iga Swiatek at Wimbledon? She is an Olympic silver medalist

Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek stirred a social media frenzy by revealing a surprising favourite dish: Pasta with strawberries. Just like pineapple on pizza, it's become a divisive dish, with backers and haters. If you're the former, this is how you make Swiatek's favourite strawberry pasta.

Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek stirred a social media frenzy by revealing a surprising favourite dish: pasta with strawberries. Just like pineapple on pizza, it's become a divisive dish, with backers and haters. If you're the former, this is how you make Swiatek's favourite strawberry pasta.

Iga Swiatek's strawberry pasta divides the internet. Step-by-step recipe here

Poland’s Iga Swiatek took another step towards a career Grand Slam title on Saturday (July 12) after she won the Wimbledon ladies singles Championship beating America’s Amanda Anisimova in a double bagel (6-0, 6-0). While the win was historic, the Poland star also made headlines for some off-court diet routines, which included pasta with strawberries, raising eyebrows among tennis fans. However, she has now been joined by Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk whose post has gone viral which included pasta with strawberries.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Smacznego! 🏆 <a href="https://t.co/aSNKNIh4uw">pic.twitter.com/aSNKNIh4uw</a>&mdash; Donald Tusk (@donaldtusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/donaldtusk/status/1944077689687830854?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 12, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Polish PM takes centre stage</h2>Swiatek, after winning her third round match against Danielle Collins, Świątek revealed that her favourite dish is pasta with strawberries, which resonated with some while raising eyebrows with others across the continent. After the Championship win over Anisimova, Poland PM Tusk posted a picture where he is seen having pasta with strawberries, supporting a surprising cocktail dish.&nbsp;&nbsp;"I have my favourite dish. I ate it often as a child. It's pasta with strawberries. You should try it. Pasta, strawberries and a bit of yogurt, it's just delicious," Świątek said after winning her match against Danielle Collins.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/indian-bowlers-achieve-rare-test-record-at-lords-first-time-since-1955-1752498536717">In series dominated by batters, Indian bowlers achieve RARE Test record first time since 1955</a>&nbsp;Netizens did not hold back after the revelation as funny reactions have since surfaced including a few stating “crime against pasta” to underline the lack of support for a cocktail.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I prefer pierogi with strawberries but yes, we also have pasta. And, worth reminding, Polish cuisine is among the best in the world. <a href="https://t.co/ClZNCF1ivg">pic.twitter.com/ClZNCF1ivg</a>&mdash; pedro65 🇵🇱 (@PiotrJungiewicz) <a href="https://twitter.com/PiotrJungiewicz/status/1941782733144863086?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 6, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“I prefer pierogi with strawberries but yes, we also have pasta. And, worth reminding, Polish cuisine is among the best in the world,” wrote one of the users.&nbsp; “Omg so funny!” wrote another user.&nbsp;“People often mock Polish strawberry pasta, but it’s actually a nutritious meal,” another user wrote while supporting the claim.<h2>One step away from career Grand Slam</h2>After Saturday’s win, Swiatek is just one step away from completing a career Grand Slam as she now needs an Australian Open crown to complete the set. She now has six major slams to her name including four French Open, one US Open and the latest Wimbledon crown. She was the losing semifinalist at the Australian Open earlier in the year, and will now vow to complete the impressive trophy haul.

Iga Swiatek, after winning her third round match against Danielle Collins revealed that her favourite dish is pasta with strawberries, which resonated with some while raising eyebrows with others across the continent. 

Poland’s Iga Swiatek took another step towards a career Grand Slam title on Saturday (July 12) after she won the Wimbledon ladies singles Championship beating America’s Amanda Anisimova in a double bagel (6-0, 6-0). While the win was historic, the Poland star also made headlines for some off-court diet routines, which included pasta with strawberries, raising eyebrows among tennis fans. However, she has now been joined by Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk whose post has gone viral which included pasta with strawberries.

Iga Swiatek, after winning her third round match against Danielle Collins revealed that her favourite dish is pasta with strawberries, which resonated with some while raising eyebrows with others across the continent.&nbsp;

'Pasta with strawberries', Polish PM's post goes viral days after Iga Swiatek makes bizarre food confession

With the Wimbledon 2025 championship getting over on Sunday (July 13), Italy’s Jannik Sinner clinched his maiden SW19 title. Here's a look at all the five winners from different categories featuring Iga Swiatek and others.

With the Wimbledon 2025 championship getting over on Sunday (Jul 13), Italy’s Jannik Sinner clinched his maiden SW19 title. Here's a look at all the five winners from different categories featuring Iga Swiatek and others.

Who won Wimbledon 2025? Full list of singles, doubles and mixed doubles champions

History was scripted on Saturday (July 12) as Poland’s Iga Swiatek won her maiden Wimbledon crown after defeating American Amanda Anisimova in a double bagel (6-0, 6-0) at the Centre Court in the ladies singles championship. The 25-year-old became the latest to lift the Venus Rosewater Dish, adding another feather to her already impressive major slams hat. Renowned for her forehand and aggressive play, Swiatek has also famously adorned the nickname “towel thief” and was presented a souvenir by the Wimbledon authorities after her latest triumph.<h2>Why was 'towel thief' Iga Swiatek gifted personalised souvenir?</h2>Renowned for her aggression and serve, Swiatek’s love for Wimbledon towels has not gone hiding as she is often seen bagging multiple towels after the match. Her funny gesture to take the on-court towels away after the match earned her the nickname “towel thief” among the Wimbledon fans. She has been spotted doing it on multiple occasions during the two weeks of the Championships.&nbsp;However, on Saturday the authorities at SW19 saw the funny side of the story and gifted the new champion a souvenir which consisted of a towel. However, there was a twist to the story as the towel was embossed with the words “property of Iga Swiatek, Wimbledon Champion”, reflecting the status of the Pole.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-eng-3rd-test-lord-s-grow-some-fucking-balls-shubman-gill-to-zak-crawley-late-on-day-3-at-lords-watch-1752344680686">‘Grow some F**ing B***s’: Gill to Crawley after English batter wastes time late on day 3 at Lord’s – WATCH</a>&nbsp;“This one’s for keeps,” Wimbledon posted on X, alongside a picture of a beaming Swiatek.Swiatek had said following her opening round victory that tennis players loved their towels.&nbsp;“It’s a topic no one ever talks about,” she said.<h2>One step away from career Grand Slam</h2>After Saturday’s win, Swiatek is just one step away from completing a career Grand Slam as she now needs an Australian Open crown to complete the set. She now has six major slams to her name including four French Open, one US Open and the latest Wimbledon crown. She was the losing semifinalist at the Australian Open earlier in the year, and will now vow to complete the impressive trophy haul.

History was scripted on Saturday (July 12) as Poland’s Iga Swiatek won her maiden Wimbledon crown after defeating American Amanda Anisimova in a double bagel (6-0, 6-0) at the Centre Court in the ladies singles championship. 

History was scripted on Saturday (July 12) as Poland’s Iga Swiatek won her maiden Wimbledon crown after defeating American Amanda Anisimova in a double bagel (6-0, 6-0) at the Centre Court in the ladies singles championship. The 25-year-old became the latest to lift the Venus Rosewater Dish, adding another feather to her already impressive major slams hat. Renowned for her forehand and aggressive play, Swiatek has also famously adorned the nickname “towel thief” and was presented a souvenir by the Wimbledon authorities after her latest triumph. Why was 'towel thief' Iga Swiatek gifted personalised souvenir? Renowned for her aggression and serve, Swiatek’s love for Wimbledon towels has not gone hiding as she is often seen bagging multiple towels after the match. Her funny gesture to take the on-court towels away after the match earned her the nickname “towel thief” among the Wimbledon fans. She has been spotted doing it on multiple occasions during the two weeks of the Championships. However, on Saturday the authorities at SW19 saw the funny side of the story and gifted the new champion a souvenir which consisted of a towel. However, there was a twist to the story as the towel was embossed with the words “property of Iga Swiatek, Wimbledon Champion”, reflecting the status of the Pole. ALSO READ | ‘Grow some F**ing B***s’: Gill to Crawley after English batter wastes time late on day 3 at Lord’s – WATCH “This one’s for keeps,” Wimbledon posted on X, alongside a picture of a beaming Swiatek. Swiatek had said following her opening round victory that tennis players loved their towels. “It’s a topic no one ever talks about,” she said. One step away from career Grand Slam After Saturday’s win, Swiatek is just one step away from completing a career Grand Slam as she now needs an Australian Open crown to complete the set. She now has six major slams to her name including four French Open, one US Open and the latest Wimbledon crown. She was the losing semifinalist at the Australian Open earlier in the year, and will now vow to complete the impressive trophy haul.

History was scripted on Saturday (July 12) as Poland’s Iga Swiatek won her maiden Wimbledon crown after defeating American Amanda Anisimova in a double bagel (6-0, 6-0) at the Centre Court in the ladies singles championship.&nbsp;

Why was 'towel thief' Iga Swiatek gifted personalised souvenir after historic Wimbledon win? All you need to know

iga-swiatek

Iga Swiatek, News on Iga Swiatek, stories on Iga Swiatek, articles on Iga Swiatek, Iga Swiatek stories at Wion, Iga Swiatek news, Iga Swiatek latest news

iga swiatek

US Open 2026: Auger-Aliassime out but Swiatek, Osaka, and Gauff advance into third round

Canadian Open: Iga Swiatek wins first title of 2026, beats Rybakina in final

Wimbledon 2026: Swiatek into Round 3; Fritz, De Minaur maintain perfect starts

Iga survives first-round scare against Townsend to begin Wimbledon title defence

Wimbledon 2026 | Ex-India player Amritraj picks Sabalenka to win women's singles

French Open | How high temperature is making ball move faster at Roland Garros

Iga Swiatek announces Francisco Roig as coach ahead of clay court season

'Tennis feels complicated': Swaitek on pressure of success post Miami Open exit

Sabalenka not going to Dubai Open in future after director's 'ridiculous' remark

AO 2026 | Swiatek asks 'are we animals' and chimes in on privacy debate

Swiatek follows Gauff on her way out of Australian Open in another QF shocker

Australian Open: Djokovic scripts history with 400 Grand Slam wins

Australian Open 2026: Iga Swiatek survives exit scare to punch second-round ticket

'Everything is fine': Swiatek sends calm message before Australian Open 2026

Iga Swiatek says women's tennis does not need 'Battle of the Sexes'

China Open: Sinner survives scare as Iga Swiatek launches title bid

US Open CEO hat stealing: Swiatek admits wanting 'Rafa's sweaty towels as kid'

US Open 2025: Osaka, Sinner, Swiatek roll into quarter-finals

US Open 2025: Sinner, Swiatek advance as Gauff sets up Osaka showdown

Iga Swiatek, Casper Ruud romp into US Open mixed doubles semis

Cincinnati Open: Iga Swiatek beats Jasmine Paolini to clinch WTA title

Cincinnati Open: Iga Swiatek swamps Rybakina in semis, to face Paolini in final

Tennis: Swiatek crashes out of WTA Canadian Open, Japan’s Osaka races through

Anastasija Sevastova topples Jessica Pegula to book date with Naomi Osaka