Belarusian top seed Aryna Sabalenka kicked off her quest for a third consecutive Australian Open title with a dominant win against Sloane Stephens. She aims to join a select group of women to complete a three-peat at Melbourne Park. Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen also secured a first round victory, while Alexander Zverev will face a tough challenge from Lucas Pouille in his opening match. Despite a wobbly first set, Sabalenka managed to close out the match in two sets against Stephens.
Australian Open 2023: Sabalenka, Zverev Kick Off Title Defense
The Australian Open, one of the four Grand Slam tournaments, commenced on January 16, 2023, at Melbourne Park. The tournament attracts the world's top tennis players, and this year's edition promises thrilling action.
Belarusian Top Seed Aryna Sabalenka Aims for Three-Peat
Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, the number one seed in the women's singles, began her quest for a historic three-peat at the Australian Open with a convincing straight-sets victory over American Sloane Stephens. If she is successful, Sabalenka will join an elite group of women to have won the Australian Open three times in a row.
Olympic Champion Zheng Qinwen Impresses
Chinese Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen made a strong start to her Australian Open campaign with a first-round win over American Katie Volynets. Qinwen has been in excellent form recently, and she is considered a rising star in the women's game.
Alexander Zverev Faces Stiff Test
Reigning Olympic champion Alexander Zverev faces a challenging opening match against French veteran Lucas Pouille. Zverev, who reached the semifinals at the Australian Open last year, will have to be at his best to overcome the experienced Pouille.
Wobbly Start for Sabalenka
Despite her dominant win over Stephens, Sabalenka had a shaky start to the match. She dropped serve twice in the first set, but she managed to recover and win the set in a tiebreaker. Sabalenka's resilience and mental strength were on full display, as she never lost her composure and eventually prevailed.
Top 5 FAQs and Answers Related to Australian Open
1. Who has won the most Australian Open titles? Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic have both won the tournament nine times.
2. When was the first Australian Open held? The first Australian Open was held in 1905 at the Warehouseman's Cricket Ground in Melbourne.
3. Who is the defending champion in the men's singles? Rafael Nadal is the defending champion, having won the title in 2022.
4. Who is the youngest female player to win the Australian Open? Martina Hingis won the tournament in 1997 at the age of 16 years and 3 months.
5. Which country has won the most Australian Open titles? Australia has won the most titles in the men's and women's singles, with 87 and 84 titles, respectively.
After facing doping accusations and a one-month ban, Iga Swiatek must now overcome the mental and emotional toll of the controversy as she competes in the Australian Open. The Polish tennis star, who has previously struggled with consistency and temper on the court, must find strength to silence the doubters and reclaim her dominance on the Grand Slam stage. With critics questioning the fairness of the anti-doping system and fellow players showing support, Swiatek faces a daunting challenge as she navigates through one of the toughest periods in her young career.
India's women's cricket team put on a dominant display in the 2nd ODI against Ireland, scoring a record-breaking total of 370/5. Led by Jemimah Rodrigues' maiden century and half-centuries from Harleen Deol, Smriti Mandhana, and Pratika Rawal, India surpassed their previous record of 358/2 against Ireland in 2017. This is also the 15th highest total in women's ODI history, with New Zealand holding the record for the highest total. The Indian batters smashed an impressive 44 fours and three sixes, with Rodrigues admitting that it was a long wait for her century and she was relieved to finally achieve it.
Baroda successfully defended 149 runs to defeat Harbhajan Singh's Punjab and lift the T20 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in a thrilling final. Aditya Waghmode, who had played the anchor in the semi-final against Delhi, was dismissed early by VRV Singh while key players like Kedar Devdhar and Ambati Rayudu were also sent back cheaply. However, brothers Yusuf and Irfan Pathan steadied the innings with a 49-run partnership, before an unbeaten 36 from Irfan helped Baroda reach a competitive total. In response, Punjab fell short by seven runs despite a valiant effort, giving Baroda their first T20 trophy.
Tottenham Hotspur will take on Tamworth in the FA Cup third round on Sunday, with our correspondent Alasdair Gold providing live updates from the game in Staffordshire. After a morale-boosting win against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup, Spurs must maintain their positive momentum against the non-league team. With a long list of unavailable players, manager Postecoglou may mix up his selection with some regular starters and young players. Despite the challenges of cancelled trains and freezing temperatures, Tottenham fans have braved the conditions to support their team in the FA Cup.
Jemimah Rodrigues shines with a century as India Women's Cricket Team sets a record-breaking total of 370/5 in the second ODI against Ireland. Harleen Deol and Smriti Mandhana also contribute with half-centuries, while Priya Mishra's economical bowling restricts Ireland to 56/1 in the 14th over.
Japanese tennis star Kei Nishikori fought back from the brink of defeat, saving two match points in a thrilling five-set match against Brazilian Thiago Monteiro at the Australian Open. The 35-year-old has been on the comeback trail after major injuries and surgeries, and his resilience was on display as he battled for over four hours to secure the win. This victory marks a significant moment in his return to top form, and with his recent success at the Hong Kong Open, he is proving to be a force to be reckoned with on the court once again.
Manchester City, Liverpool, and Chelsea all secured big victories in the FA Cup third round on Saturday, while Premier League side Brentford suffered a surprising defeat to lower-league team Plymouth. The 8-0 rout of Salford by Manchester City was especially significant as it was a blow to the dreams of Salford's former Manchester United star owners. Despite the presence of club legends Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, and Nicky Butt at the Etihad, Salford were unable to compete with City's wholesale changes and suffered a devastating loss.
Liverpool dominated League Two team Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup third-round tie with a 4-0 win. Diogo Jota and Trent Alexander-Arnold scored in the first half and Jayden Danns and Federico Chiesa added two more goals in the second half. Liverpool's attacking style and quick counter-attacks proved to be too much for Accrington to handle.
England international Trent Alexander-Arnold proved his critics wrong by scoring a brilliant goal to secure Liverpool's spot in the fourth round of the FA Cup with a commanding 4-0 win over Accrington Stanley. With captain Virgil van Dijk absent, Alexander-Arnold stepped up to take on the leadership role and led by example. Manager Arne Slot's decision to make eight changes paid off as the Reds cruised to victory against the lower league side, despite Stanley's early resilience. Federico Chiesa also made his mark by scoring his first goal for Liverpool.