(Tokyo) Félix Auger-Aliassime took time to find his composure at the Japan Tennis Championships on Monday, but he nevertheless made it through the first round by defeating Australian Aleksandar Vukic in three sets, 7-6 (3), 6-7 (2), 6-2 in two hours and 51 minutes, in Tokyo.
The 23-year-old Quebecer will face Austrian Sebastian Ofner in the second round.
In the first set against Vukic, Auger-Aliassime, the eighth seed, played his best tennis in the tiebreaker where his serve and shot placement started to click.
Trailing 3-2 in the second set, Auger-Aliassime had six break chances, but failed to take advantage and trailed 4-2 before taking a 6-point lead. -5. Vukic tied the set at 6-6, forcing another tiebreaker which he won 7-2.
In the third set, with a more offensive style, Félix Auger-Aliassime took a 5-1 lead to finally score a decisive 6-2 victory.
In total, the Canadian scored 13 aces, compared to five for his Australian opponent. Auger-Aliassime committed six double faults, compared to two for Vukic.
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.
Gabriel Diallo was heading to his training site when he answered the video call from The Press. Sitting in the back seat of a car, the 24-year-old gave instructions to the driver. It was Friday morning in Melbourne. Thursday evening in Quebec. A little over 48 hours before Diallo begins the first major tournament of his career without Martin Laurendeau, his coach for the last five years.
A little over a week ago, Diallo announced the end of his association with Laurendeau. United since the end of Diallo’s internship at the University of Kentucky, Laurendeau and the gentle giant have left each other on good terms, specifies the 41e world ranking player.
A few weeks ago, the two men met to discuss their future. And according to Diallo, it was better that their respective paths took different paths. “It wasn’t easy,” explains the Montrealer about said conversation.
He’s someone I’ve seen more than my own parents. He saw me more than his wife. We spent a lot of time together.
Gabriel Diallo, about Martin Laurendeau
“He is someone who has been vital in my career, in my personal life. It wasn’t an ideal conversation, but we think it was in both of their best interests. »
Diallo swam in the waters of the 1000e place in the world rankings when Laurendeau took him under his wing. Since then, the 6’8″ player has continued to progress, becoming one of the greatest projects in Canadian tennis. Last year, Diallo reached 33e world place. He also won his first title on the ATP circuit, in ‘s-Hertogenbosch.
“We had a nice run together. He helped me enormously in my transition to the professionals. It ended well. We still get along very well. He will always remain someone important to me and he will remain close to me and my family. I wish him the best. »
PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Coach Martin Laurendeau and Gabriel Diallo in 2023
Learn differently
In the car, Diallo wore the jersey of a German soccer team. He didn’t know what training it was. We pointed out to him, however, that the blue and yellow sweater mainly represented the colors of the native country of his two new coaches, the Swedes Johan Örtegren and Jonas Björkman. The first notably trained Grigor Dimitrov. The second has already sat at the top of the world doubles rankings.
“They are trying to convince me that Sweden is a bigger hockey nation than Canada. We have a problem,” says Diallo, laughing. With “a teamfull Sweden,” as he described it, there will be “a period of adaptation.” Especially since the season begins with a grand slam tournament.
“I am aware of that, even if I want to perform, to play well, to win lots of matches and to climb the rankings. This may not necessarily be reality. I am aware of this period. »
Reached by telephone, Valérie Tétreault, director of the Omnium Banque Nationale, agrees. “We must not underestimate the period of adjustments that it requires when we change coaches. Maybe they will have a new philosophy. We don’t want to completely distort Gabriel’s game, because he’s very successful and we know his game. It’s focused on power. »
According to her, like when new managers take over a company, “they want to show why they were hired and they will want to add their little touch. But if there is one in recent years who never ceases to surprise us, it is Gabriel. His greatest quality is his fighting spirit. Just that leads him to win big matches.”
The challenge
There are 128 players in the main draw of the Australian Open. And among all this contingent, the draw determined that Diallo would face Alexander Zverev, third in the world, in the first round. The meeting will take place this Saturday evening, Quebec time.
PHOTO WILLIAM WEST, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Alexander Zverev training in Melbourne on Friday
Since tennis players hate talking about their opponents and their strategies before a match, we asked Diallo how he would prepare, hypothetically, if he had to face a player from the top 5 from the first round of a major tournament.
Well aware of our ploy, Diallo turned his head from left to right as he replied: “I don’t see what we’re talking about here. »
More seriously, the Quebecer seemed excited by the challenge that awaited him. Even if, unsurprisingly, he would have preferred to face a lower ranked opponent to be able to start his tournament gradually.
“It’s a big challenge,” he admits. But that’s what we train for. That’s why we put in the hours, especially here in Australia when everyone comes back from pre-season. I will play on a bigger field, there will be a big atmosphere and I will play against a very good quality player. The challenge is high, but when we pick up our first racket at the age of 5 or 6 and watch the players on TV on the big center, we dream of being there. And that’s where I am. »
His game plan, therefore, “is to enjoy it, have fun and play quality tennis”.
Start off on the right foot
Zverev and Diallo have never crossed swords. In his career, the Montrealer has lost his four matches against players from top 5. Three times, however, he forced his rival to play a final round.
And in this context, it will be difficult to analyze or judge Diallo’s result. Especially in Australia. Mainly because there are two ways to evaluate players’ performance in this tournament.
PHOTO NATHAN DENETTE, CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVES
Gabriel Diallo
Some will say that this is the first major tournament of the season and that the table is wide open, since the best players are not quite at the level yet. Others will argue that since everyone starts from scratch and most athletes arrive healthy, the best must show their superiority and win.
“At every grand slam tournament, everyone wants to perform. But we are at the beginning of the year. The year is long. You take the matches as they are,” notes Diallo.
“You try to get out of blocks pretty explosively and quickly. But I also don’t have to worry if things don’t go the way I want or if I perform below expectations. The year is long, I will have plenty of opportunities to perform and get matches. »
In addition, Diallo will no longer be able to count on the surprise effect of recent seasons. He has climbed the rankings, the players know him and know too well that with his power, he can compete with higher ranked players.
New year, new team, new expectations for Diallo. “So I can’t wait to see where this all takes me.” »
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.
The Russian tennis player became the main character of Adelaide.
Mirra Andreeva started the 2026 season as confidently as possible. Early on Saturday morning, the 18-year-old Russian won the WTA 500 tournament in Adelaide, beating Canadian Victoria Mboko in the final. The match turned out to be fleeting, but revealing – 6:3, 6:1 in 1 hour 4 minutes.
The Russian started the tournament as the eighth racket in the world and looked collected and calm all week. The victory in Australia was the fourth in her career at the WTA level and a good benchmark before the start of the Australian Open. Mboko, ranked 17th in the rankings, also approached the final in excellent form, but at the decisive moment it was Andreeva who was more stable and accurate.
How the final match unfolded
The start of the meeting was left to the Canadian. Mboko immediately set a high pace, actively went on the attack and quickly took a 3:0 lead. At these moments, Andreeva made inaccuracies, missed forehand shots and did not immediately catch the desired rhythm.
The turning point came after the Russian confidently took her serve and then made a reverse break. From that moment on, the match took a completely different scenario. Andreeva began to load her opponent in the corners more often, added variety and stopped rushing in rallies. A series of inaccuracies by Mboko and a double mistake on a break point by her opponent allowed Mirra to take the lead – 4:3.
The ending of the first set was controlled by the Russian. A shortened shot, another break and an accurate backhand into the right corner – 6:3 in favor of Andreeva.
In the second set, the intrigue did not last long. Mirra immediately took her serve, then scored a break and quickly went ahead – 3:0. Mboko managed to take one game, but this was the Canadian’s only success in the second game. Andreeva acted without fuss, confidently kept the ball in the court and brought the match to victory – 6:1.
The final was completed in 64 minutes. Andreeva made one ace, made one double fault and converted five out of 10 break points. Mboko hit two straight serves, made three service errors and used the only break point she managed to earn during the match. In terms of key indicators, the Russian’s advantage looked convincing.
In the semi-finals, Andreeva beat Diana Schneider with a score of 6:3, 6:2, not allowing her compatriot to force a protracted fight. Mboko, in turn, confidently beat Australian Kimberly Birrell – 6:2, 6:1. The final looked like a logical conclusion to the tournament, but it was Mirra who looked most ready in it.
“I don’t even understand why you’re here.”
After the match, Andreeva came out for an interview in a great mood. She first congratulated Mboko and her team, noting the Canadian’s progress and strong tournament week. Mirra then thanked her team for their hard work and tough training.
— Congratulations to Vicky and her team. You have been showing amazing tennis since last year. I want to celebrate your great week and congratulate you on it. I hope there are many more finals together in the future. I don’t know, it’s probably my team’s turn next, but I feel that all this is primarily thanks to me. I don’t even know what to say. I’ve trained a lot, worked a lot, sweated a lot, and honestly, I don’t even understand why you’re here. No, of course I’m joking.
Thanks to Conchita and Agut for pushing me to the limit, making me work every day. Thanks to Alexey for sparring with me every day and sometimes even driving me crazy. And yes, thanks to my friends who came and supported me at every match I played. And, of course, thanks to my mother – she is always there for me and always provides me with great support. So a big thank you to my team,” Mirra said in an on-court interview.
The most memorable part of the interview was the self-irony. Andreeva thanked herself several times – for her courage, for her work in training and for being able to change her thinking and fight until the last rally. It is no coincidence that she gave interviews wearing a T-shirt with the inscription “I want to say thank you to myself.”
The title in Adelaide was Mirra Andreeva’s fourth in her career and first in the 2026 season. Now the Russian woman will perform at the Australian Open, where she goes as the winner of the WTA 500 tournament and with confident play.
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.
In March 2025, Kasatkina announced that she would represent Australia at the competition. At recent tournaments she competed under the Australian flag.
Kasatkina is 28 years old, a native of Togliatti, ranked 48th in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) rankings, and has eight victories in WTA singles tournaments.
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.
