Tennis

United Cup Canada wins 3-0 over China in Sydney, Australia

Published

1 week ago

January 4, 2026

Nancy

United Cup Canada wins 3-0 over China in Sydney, Australia

(Sydney) Félix Auger-Aliassime defeated Zhang Zhizhen 6-4, 6-4 on Sunday, giving Canada a 3-0 victory over China at the United Cup in Australia.

The Quebecer managed both breaks of the match, in addition to having a 6-2 advantage in aces.

The 25-year-old is fifth in the ATP rankings.

“I am very satisfied with this first match of the year,” said Auger-Aliassime, quoted by the tournament website. Tennis is all about rhythm, playing the big points under pressure, so you never know what to expect. I woke up this morning hoping for the best, and I played my best tennis. »

Her victory followed that of Victoria Mboko, who beat Lin Zhu 2-6, 6-2, 6-0.

PHOTO RICK RYCROFT, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Victoria Mboko

“I wasn’t really at my best at the start of the match,” said Mboko, quoted by the WTA website. I had to get used to the pitch and the balls.

“I’m happy to have found my bearings, at least enough to change the course of the match. When I found my rhythm, I started to become myself again. »

Mboko dominated 9-0 for aces and 6-3 for breaks. She also overcame four double faults.

Auger-Aliassime and Mboko then beat Xiaodi You and Rigele Te 6-1 and 6-3 in mixed doubles.

PHOTO IZHAR KHAN, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Victoria Mboko and Félix Auger-Aliassime after their victory in mixed doubles against You Xiaodi (right) and Te Rigele (second from left)

Auger-Aliassime finished the 2025 season in style. He notably made it to the semi-finals in New York, where he lost in four sets to Jannik Sinner.

Mboko concluded last year by collecting five consecutive victories including his second title of the season, in Hong Kong.

19-year-old Toronto girl is 18^e in the WTA rankings.

Canada will face Belgium on Tuesday, with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.

Auger-Aliassime will face Zizou Bergs, then Mboko will play against Elise Mertens.

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

Three sets and 6:0. Starodubtseva made a successful start to the Aus Open 2026 selection

Published

1 hour ago

January 12, 2026

Nancy

Three sets and 6:0. Starodubtseva made a successful start to the Aus Open 2026 selection

Ukrainian tennis player Yulia Starodubtseva (WTA 111) has made a successful start to the 2026 Australian Open qualifiers.

In the first round of the selection, the Ukrainian player beat the French representative in three sets Alice Tubello (WTA 431) in 1 hour 52 minutes.

Australian Open 2026. Qualification

Yulia Starodubtseva (Ukrainian) [6] – Alice Tubello (France) – 6:2, 3:6, 6:0

This was the first head-to-head meeting between the rivals.

Julia’s next opponent will be Despina Papamikhail (Greece, WTA 157), who beat Sasha Vickery at the beginning of the selection.

Starodubtseva is performing on the courts of Melbourne for the third time in her career. In 2024, she passed the qualifications, losing to Ons Jabeur in the 1/64 final, and last season, she immediately entered the top 11, losing to Leila Fernandez.

In the Aus Open 2026 qualifiers, Ukraine will be represented by Starodubtseva, as well as Daria Snigur, Angelina Kalinina and Vitaly Sachko. They will hold their first meeting on the night of January 13.

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

Russian Mirra Andreeva rose to eighth place in the WTA rankings

Published

2 hours ago

January 12, 2026

Gary

Russian Mirra Andreeva rose to eighth place in the WTA rankings

Mirra Andreeva / Photo: © Robert Prange / Contributor / Getty Images Sport / Gettyimages.ru

Russian Mirra Andreeva moved from ninth to eighth place in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) rankings, an updated version of which was published on the organization’s website.

Another Russian woman, Ekaterina Alexandrova, dropped to 11th position, Lyudmila Samsonova became 18th.

American Cori Gauff became the third racket of the world, ahead of Amanda Anisimova from the USA. Belarusian Arina Sabalenka is still in the lead, Iga Szwiatek from Poland is in second place.

WTA rankings as of January 12:

1 (1). Arina Sabalenko (Belarus) – 10990 points

2 (2). Iga Szwiatek (Poland) – 8328

3 (4). Corey Gauff – (USA) – 6423

4 (3). Amanda Anisimova – (USA) – 6320

5 (5). Elena Rybakina (Kazakhstan) – 5850

6 (6). Jessica Pegula (USA) – 5453

7 (8). Jasmine Paolini (Italy) – 4267

8 (9). Mirra Andreeva (Russia) – 4232

9 (7). Madison Keys (USA) – 4003

10 (11). Belinda Bencic (Switzerland) – 3512

11 (10). Ekaterina Alexandrova (Russia) – 3375

…

18 (17). Lyudmila Samsonova – 2122

23 (21). Diana Schneider – 1818

31 (30). Veronica Kudermetova – 1517

33 (33). Anna Kalinskaya – 1483

44 (44). Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova – 1185

62 (61). Anna Blinkova – 1016

98 (100). Oksana Selekhmetyeva – 766 (all – Russia)

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.

Tennis

Australian Open Alexis Galarneau packs up for Melbourne

Published

5 hours ago

January 12, 2026

Nancy

Australian Open Alexis Galarneau packs up for Melbourne

Quebecer Alexis Galarneau was eliminated in the first round of qualifying for the Australian Open on Monday in Melbourne.

The 26-year-old lost in two sets of 6-4, 6-2 to the American Nishesh Basavareddy, 172^e world player.

Galarneau, 213^e in the ATP rankings, slammed three aces and committed two double faults. He only won 59% of the points contested on his first serve.

The Laval resident had only one break point during the clash, and he converted it. His opponent, however, had six and converted four of them.

Basavareddy hit six aces and committed just one double fault. He also won 74% of the points played on his first serve and 69% of those played on his second serve.

In the women’s category, Canadian Cadence Brace lost 7-6 (5), 7-6 (6) to Australian Tina Nadine Smith.

Brace, 20 years old and 186^e world player, hit no aces and committed six double faults. She broke her opponent four times, but suffered eight breaks.

Later Monday in Melbourne, Canadians Kayla Cross and Marina Stakusic will be in action.

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.