(Melbourne) Canadian Gabriela Dabrowski and her Brazilian partner Luisa Stefani brilliantly began their doubles journey at the Australian Open on Wednesday with a 6-4, 7-6 (3) victory against Americans Jessica Pegula and McCartney Kessler.
In 16are In the final, the winners will face Colombian Emiliana Arango and Frenchwoman Elsa Jacquemot, who eliminated American Venus Williams and her Russian teammate Ekaterina Alexandrova in the first round.
Dabrowski and Stefani took the lead with a break that made it 5-4 in the first set. The two clans exchanged two breaks in the second set, Dabrowski and Stefani notably letting two match points slip away with balls in hand, at 5-4.
However, they won the first four points of the tiebreaker before ending the match in one hour 46 minutes.
Doubles specialist, Dabrowski (10e) reached the semifinals in women’s doubles in this first major tournament of the season for the last two years. She has two Grand Slam titles, obtained in 2023 and 2025 at the United States Open with New Zealander Erin Routliffe.
Quebecer Leylah Annie Fernandez was also in doubles action on Wednesday. Teaming up with Hungarian Timea Babos, she faced American Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Spaniard Cristina Bucsa.
In singles, Canadian Victoria Mboko (16e) has a meeting with the American Caty McNally (85e) in the second round.
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Ukrainian tennis player Elina Svitolina She commented on the victory over Linda Klimovicheva in the final of the Australian Open 2026 1/32:
– Elina, congratulations. What a victory. It’s never easy to play against an opponent you don’t know. The first set was quite tense, but the contrast became obvious in the second set. How did you feel on the field?
– Yes, the match was not easy. Linda played really well. He hit the ball very hard and of course it’s always difficult to play against someone you don’t know, especially if he’s a new player on Tour. It was necessary to find the right path. I am very happy that I could finish the match in two sets.
– You look almost invincible this year: cup in Auckland, now third round here. How did you take your game to the next level and where is your confidence level now?
– To be honest, I’m trying to progress match by match. There is no need to rush. It all comes down to finding ways to win. Sometimes matches aren’t perfect, sometimes you just have to keep your head up and fight. It’s working very well so far. I’m very pleased with how the off-season went – after September I had time to rest well and get ready to fight again. I’m happy with how I started the season and enjoyed the game.
– You look so ready. Yesterday your husband lost and played in the last Australian Open. What does this mean for you emotionally?
– Of course I was very sorry. I was very, very sad yesterday.
– Did you give him a “hard analysis” after the defeat?
– No, no. He played here for many years and it is a great pleasure for all of us to see him here for the last time. He is retiring in October and this will be a very special year for him. I’m so happy to be with him and share these moments.
– What is his/her role in your team currently? Is he just a husband or does he still give advice? I talked to him yesterday and he said: “I’m only here for Elina. I’ll support her, she can get what she wants.”
– I can say that he is just a husband (laughs). Of course, it is very difficult not to talk about tennis when we are both at this level and playing in the same tournament, tennis is always a part of our lives. But years pass and I don’t know how everything will be from now on. I’m sure we will enjoy it very much as a family. That’s the most important thing for us right now.
– Believe me, you will still talk about tennis. I am married to a former tennis player; This happens all the time. What do you have planned for the rest of the day? It’s only 12:30, early in the day. Your daughter is not with you. What will you and Gael do?
– Maybe we can go shopping. Now that he’s retired from the tournament, he has more time to take me shopping, for example.
– Allow him to take credit cards. Elina, congratulations, you made it to the third round.
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.
Russian tennis player Diana Schneider made it to the third round of the Australian Open in Melbourne.
In the second round match, 23rd seed Schneider defeated Australian Talia Gibson with a score of 3:6, 7:5, 6:3. The meeting lasted 2 hours 13 minutes.
Gibson was one game away from victory, winning 6-3, 5-4. Then in the third set the Australian led 2:0, but Schneider twice turned the tide of the match.
The Russian’s next opponent will be Ukrainian Elina Svitolina, who has the 12th seed.
Grand Slam Tournament. Australian Open. Melbourne (Australia). Hard. Total prize fund: about $75 million
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(Melbourne) The favorite and world number one racket, Aryna Sabalenka, defeated China’s Bai Zhuoxuan 6-3, 6-1 to reach the third round of the Australian Open tennis tournament.
Facing a tenacious opponent, the Belarusian needed seven set points to win the first set. Playing defensive tennis, Bai (702e) made several drop shots which allowed him to prolong the match.
Sabalenka won this first major tournament of the season in 2023 and 2024, but lost the final to American Madison Keys last year. She is seeking a fifth Grand Slam title, while she has also triumphed twice at the United States Open.
Bai was in the main draw of this tournament for the second time in his career. She defeated Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova on Sunday, reaching the second round for the first time.
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.
