Tennis

Leylah Fernandez victorious in her first match

Published

3 years ago

February 19, 2023

Nancy

Leylah Fernandez victorious in her first match

PHOTO: KAMRAN JEBREILI, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Quebecer Leylah Fernandez during her match against Austrian Julia Grabher, Sunday.

(Dubai) Quebecer Leylah Fernandez got off to a good start at the Dubai Tennis Championships with a straight-set 6-4, 6-2 win over Austria’s Julia Grabher on Sunday.

In the next round, Fernandez will cross swords with Poland’s Iga Swiatek, the world’s leading player, very possibly on Tuesday.

The latter will come to this tournament after dominating the American Jessica Pegula in the final of the Qatar Open, 6-3, 6-0, on Saturday.

It was the second time Fernandez and Grabher faced each other in their career. The 20-year-old Quebecer, 39^e in the world, needed to work a little harder, but only slightly, than in their first encounter which they won 6-0, 6-1 in Auckland, New Zealand, on January 5, in just 45 minutes.

On Sunday, it took him 40 minutes to complete the first run. Fernandez took the lead with a service break in the fifth game, but lost that advantage in the eighth game, allowing Grabher to bring the duel back to even serve.

Fernandez responded by breaking Grabher’s serve in the very next game before winning the set when the Austrian sent a forehand over the baseline.

Fernandez followed up by winning the first four games of the second set in an expeditious manner, conceding only five points in the process.

For Grabber, 90^e world player, the climb to climb was too steep. The match ended after 74 minutes of action when the Austrian attempted a backhand return of serve which fell beyond the baseline.

On Monday, it will be Ontario’s Bianca Andreescu’s turn to play her first-round match, against Kazakh Elena Rybakina, seeded ninth and 10^e world player.

Andreescu occupies the 36^e rank in the WTA rankings.

Source: lapresse

Nancy

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.

Tennis

VIDEO. Wawrinka played his last match at the Aus Open and had a beer with the director

Published

24 minutes ago

January 25, 2026

Nancy

VIDEO. Wawrinka played his last match at the Aus Open and had a beer with the director

40-year-old Swiss tennis player Stan Wawrinka (ATR 139) played the last match of his career at the Australian Open.

In the 1/16 major final on January 24, the Swiss lost to the world’s ninth ranked Taylor Fritz of the USA in four sets in 2 hours 45 minutes.

Wawrinka managed to outperform Laszlo Gyore and Arthur Hea in Melbourne. He spent a total of 10 hours and 24 minutes on the field over the course of three fights. Stan will end his professional career in 2026.

After the meeting ended, Wawrinka, who brought two cans of beer with him during his farewell speech, shared his last minutes on the field with Australian Open director Craig Tiley.

“This was my last time on the court as a player. I’ve gone through so many emotions over these 20 years, all thanks to you. It’s been an incredible journey. I won my first Grand Slam here. I’ve always loved coming back here, I’ve always felt supported. It’s largely thanks to you that I’ve continued to play for so long – because of the love and emotions you’ve given me. I’m sorry to leave, but it’s been a truly wonderful journey. I’ve seen how much you love tennis all these years, how you support us, how you know how to enjoy the moment. Now “It’s my turn, so I’d like to have a beer with Craig if you don’t mind.”

Wawrinka won the Australian Open cup in 2014. He has 45 wins and 19 losses on Melbourne courts.

Australian Open 2026. 1/16 finals

Stan Wawrinka (Switzerland) – Taylor Fritz (AMERICA) [9] – 6:7 (5:7), 6:2, 4:6, 4:6

Video review of Stan Wawrinka vs Taylor Fritz match

VIDEO. Wawrinka played his final match at the Aus Open and had a beer with the tournament director.

photo gallery

Source: Sport UA

Nancy

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.

Tennis

Australian Open Sabalenka eliminates Victoria Mboko and returns to the quarters

Published

1 hour ago

January 25, 2026

Nancy

Australian Open Sabalenka eliminates Victoria Mboko and returns to the quarters

(Melbourne) World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka dismissed young Canadian Victoria Mboko (16^e at 19) 6-1, 7-6 (7/1) Sunday in 8^are final of the Australian Open where she will return to the quarter-finals for the fourth time in a row.

“So young, she is incredibly strong so I am very happy to have won in two rounds,” commented the 27-year-old Belarusian, double winner in Melbourne (2023, 2024) and finalist last year.

She will face Kazakh Yulia Putintseva (94) on Tuesday.^e) or the American Iva Jovic (27^e) to try to find the last square.

Revelation of last year with his title at the WTA 1000 in Montreal, Mboko participated in his first Australian Open. She achieved her best Grand Slam run to date, after her debut in Majors last year. She lost in the third round at Roland Garros, the second at Wimbledon and the first at the US Open.

On Sunday, Mboko played with his right leg still wrapped in a huge bandage running from mid-thigh to mid-calf to protect his knee.

After missing two break points in the first game of the match, the Canadian then seemed completely helpless.

But, trailing 4-1 in the second set, she took advantage of a bad game from Sabalenka to steal her serve and then return to 4-3.

Sabalenka served for the match at 5-4 but failed to convert any of her first three match points, letting Mboko return to 5-5.

In the tiebreaker, however, Sabalenka immediately broke away 6/0 and concluded on her fifth match point.

“It’s in the head and we always have to play the best we can even if it’s not our best level,” stressed the Belarusian.

She has already won four Grand Slam tournaments with, in addition to her two Australian trophies, the US Open 2024 and 2025.

She will play her 13^e consecutive Grand Slam quarter-finals since her third-round elimination at Roland Garros in 2021 (she did not participate in Wimbledon in 2022 or 2024).

Source: lapresse

Nancy

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.

Tennis

Sabalenka reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open

Published

1 hour ago

January 25, 2026

Gary

Arina Sabalenko / Photo: © Darrian Traynor / Staff / Getty Images Sport / Gettyimages.ru

The first racket of the world, Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, reached the quarter finals of the Australian Open in Melbourne.

In the fourth round, Sabalenka beat Canada’s Victoria Mboko with a score of 6:1, 7:6 (7:1). The opponents spent 1 hour and 28 minutes on the court.

In the quarter finals, Sabalenka’s opponent will be the winner of the pair Yulia Putintseva (Kazakhstan) – Iva Jovic (USA)

Grand Slam Tournament. Australian Open. Melbourne (Australia). Hard. Total prize fund: about $75 million

Women. Fourth circle

Arina Sabalenka (Belarus) – Victoria Mboko (Canada) – 6:1, 7:6 (7:1).

Source: Sportbox

Gary

I am a sports journalist who has written for a number of Sportish. I have a background in journalism and have been writing since I was young. My main focus is sports news, but I also write about general news. I am currently working as an author at Sportish.