Tennis
Sakkari showed character and reached the quarterfinals
Maria Sakkari, although she lost the first set, improved her performance and in the end defeated Rous with a 2-1 set (3-6, 6-2, 6-3) and qualified for the quarter-finals of the clay court tournament in Parma, where she will find her opposite Zanefska.
Maria Sakkari (No. 7) beat Arantsa Rous (No. 114) after two hours and 37 minutes with 2:1 sets (3:6, 6:2, 6:3) and qualified for the quarterfinals Sand tournament in Parma.
The Greek tennis player had to qualify for the win as she lost by 1-0 sets, but then she upped her game and claimed the two sets and the win. Sakkari on “8” meets Zanefska (No. 97) from Belgium.
This time her task was even more difficult as her nerves were on edge during the match after two poor refereeing decisions. Nevertheless he succeeded. He showed character, won 11 of the 15 games played after the first set and prevailed.
However, to achieve her second consecutive victory this week in Parma, Maria had to overcome several obstacles. Not just the ones Rous threw at them, but the ones the… umpire threw at them.
A controversial referee call for Sakkari to ‘interfere’ early in the first set (when the score was 1-3) got Maria out of the water, increasing the pressure and… nerves. Losing the 1st play was probably expected when he found himself losing 1-4.
Before the start of the 2nd set, the 27-year-old Greek and world No. 7 irritated the movement of people on the pitch to wet the pitch after a tip from the referee.
Sakkari thought this shouldn’t happen as she herself disagreed and the referee received a clear message from Maria: “Don’t talk to me again, don’t bother me again until the game is over.”
From that point on, the facts of the game changed completely. The No. 1 on the board showed her class, overcame all obstacles on her way and enthusiastically celebrated a psychological victory.
With 59/91 points won behind her serve, Maria finished the match and took advantage of 3/9 break points, as opposed to 1/6 chances for Rous, who couldn’t match Maria’s high pace in sets 2 and 3.
Source: sport 24
Four representatives from Ukraine were included in the qualification list Australian Open 2026.
Yulia Starodubtseva (WTA 113), Angelina Kalinina (WTA 127), Daria Snigur (WTA 153) and Vitaly Sachko (ATP 153) will compete for the Australian Open main draws.
The best moments of tennis matches LIVE on Telegram channel Tennis on Sport.ua
Major qualifiers in Melbourne will be held from January 12-17.
The place at the heart of the Australian Open 2026 is guaranteed by four Ukrainian tennis players: Elina Svitolina, Marta Kostyuk, Dayana Yastremskaya and Alexandra Oleynikova.
Home page for Australian Open 2026 qualifiers (women)
Home page for Australian Open 2026 qualifiers (men)
Source: Sport UA
I am a sports journalist who has worked in print and online. I have authored articles for a sports website and have covered sports news for over 6 years.
Ukraine’s first racket Elina Svitolina (WTA 14) became the “Opening Week” participant of the Australian Open 2026.
On January 14, 2026, the Ukrainian will play an exhibition match against Amanda Anisimova (USA, WTA 4) at the tournament’s main stadium, Rod Laver Arena.
The meeting will be held in the format of two standard sets as the deciding game and a super tiebreak up to 10 points.
There will also be four more exhibition matches: Elena Rybakina – Zheng Qingwen, Alexander Zverev – Lorenzo Musetti, Carlos Alcaraz – Alex de Minaur, Jannik Sinner – Felix Auger-Aliassime.
After the match between Svitolina and Anisimova, Rod Laver Arena will host the AO 1 Point Slam tournament, where tennis stars Iga Swiatek, Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Coco Gauff, Naomi Osaka, Daniil Medvedev, Zheng Qingwen, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Jasmine Paolini will compete against amateurs.
Source: Sport UA
I am a sports journalist who has worked in print and online. I have authored articles for a sports website and have covered sports news for over 6 years.
Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) announced the list of all award winners for the 2025 season.
World number one Arina Sabalenka was chosen as the best tennis player of the year. Hendrik Vleshouwers, coach of American Amanda Anisimova, received the best coach award.
Anisimova received the Progress of the Year award, while Victoria Mboko received the Newcomer of the Year award. Katerina Sinyakova / Taylor Townsend couple was chosen as the best duet of the season.
WTA Awards 2025. All award winners
- The best tennis player of the season – Aryna Sabalenka
- Best Duo of the Year – Katerina Sinyakova / Taylor Townsend
- Progress of the Year – Amanda Anisimova
- Rookie of the Year – Victoria Mboko
- Comeback of the Year – Belinda Bencic
- Diamond Aces (promoting tennis both on and off the court) – Coco Gauff
- Peachy Kellmeier Award (for contributions to WTA players) – Gabriela Dabrowski
- Karen Kranzke Sportsmanship Award – Jessica Pegula
- Georgina Clarke Mother of the Year Award (awarded to retired female tennis players) – Nicole Pratt (Australian coach)
- Coach of the Year – Hendrik Vleshouwers (Amanda Anisimova’s coach)
- Pet of the Year (singles) – Zheng Qingwen
- Favorites of the year in pairs – Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini
- Shot of the year – Carolina Muchova (vs. Clara Towson in WTA 1000 semi-final in Dubai)
- Match of the year – Coco Gauff vs. Zheng Qingwen (WTA 1000 semi-final in Rome – 7:6 (7:3), 4:6, 7:6 (7:4))
VIDEO. Shot of the year from Carolina Muchova
This Thursday I’m offering you a tweener throwback 🤩
Only @karomuchova7 things 🙂↕️#ThrowbackThursday pic.twitter.com/TUfY7Q02Rh
— wta (@WTA) November 13, 2025
VIDEO. Match of the year from Coco Gauff and Zheng Qingwen in Rome
Source: Sport UA
I am a sports journalist who has worked in print and online. I have authored articles for a sports website and have covered sports news for over 6 years.
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