DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – The world No. 1 Serbian Novak Djokovic has registered for the ATP 500 tournament in Dubai, the Emirati press announced on Friday, after learning that a list of participants was planned for this tournament. for the past week. .
Djokovic left Melbourne for Belgrade, arriving via Dubai on January 17 after being expelled from Australia, the epilogue of a long saga surrounding his vaccination status that deprived him of the opportunity to attempt a 10th title at the Australian Open and a 21st Grand Slam lift, which would have been the all-time record for Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.
Vaccination is not required for entry into the United Arab Emirates, where 100% of residents have received at least one dose of the vaccine.
Djokovic, who won the Dubai tournament five times, has not been vaccinated against COVID.
Jessica Martinez is an author at Sportish, a publication dedicated to sports news and analysis. She covers various topics related to sports and provides insightful commentary on the latest developments in the world of sports.
(Adelaide) Canadian Victoria Mboko saved two match points en route to a 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (6) victory over Russian Anna Kalinskaya on Tuesday, giving her a bye to the quarter-finals of the Adelaide tennis tournament.
Mboko, the eighth seed in the last preparatory tournament before the Australian Open, saved a match point at 6-5 in the third set, before saving another in the final tiebreaker, en route to a victory in two hours and 22 minutes against the 33e world player.
The Canadian thus increased her career record to 2-0 against Kalinskaya, after taking advantage of her retirement from the Hong Kong tournament – which she eventually won – in November 2025.
This result set the table for a quarter-final duel in Adelaide against the winner of the match between the Czech Tereza Valentova, 60e in the world, and the American Madison Keys, second seed.
The 19-year-old Ontarian had four aces, committed five double faults and converted six of her 14 break points against Kalinskaya. The latter, however, recorded five breaks in nine opportunities.
For her part, Leylah Annie Fernandez, 22e racket in the world, was eliminated by the Russian Diana Shnaider, 11e world player, in two sets of 7-5, 6-3.
PHOTO PATRICK HAMILTON, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE ARCHIVES
Leylah Annie Fernandez
Fernandez hit two aces, but committed four double faults in his defeat against Shnaider, in 97 minutes of play.
The Quebecer had three break points, but was unable to convert one, unlike the Russian, who broke it twice in eight occasions.
Fernandez did not do badly on his serve, winning 70% of the points contested on his first ball, but his opponent was uncompromising in this facet, with 85% success.
On the men’s side, Quebecer Gabriel Diallo, 41e in the world, was eliminated in two sets of 6-3 and 7-6 (4) by the Italian Andrea Vavassori, 336e.
Both players hit five aces and three double faults, but Diallo only won 76% of the points contested on his first serve, unlike 86% for his opponent.
Diallo got a single break point and converted it. Vavassori, for his part, broke Diallo twice on three occasions.
The 24-year-old Montrealer will have the opportunity to redeem himself next week, when the Australian Open gets underway.
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 Mirra Andreeva reached the quarterfinals of the WTA 500 tournament in Adelaide.
The Russian, seeded third at the tournament, beat Czech Republic representative Maria Bouzkova in two sets in the second round of the competition – 6:3, 6:1. The duration of the match was 1 hour and 10 minutes.
In the next round, Andreeva will play with the winner of the match Maya Joynt (Australia) – Ayla Tomljanovic (Australia).
WTA 500. Adelaide International. Adelaide (Australia). Hard. Prize fund – more than 1.2 million dollars
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.
Russian tennis player Anna Kalinskaya failed to reach the quarterfinals of the WTA 500 tournament in Adelaide.
In the second round match, Kalinskaya lost to eighth seeded Victoria Mboko from Canada with a score of 2:6, 6:3, 6:7 (6:8). The meeting lasted 2 hours 22 minutes.
Mboko’s next opponent will be the winner of the match Tereza Valentova (Czech Republic) – Madison Keys (USA, 2).
WTA 500. Adelaide International. Adelaide (Australia). Hard. Prize fund – more than 1.2 million dollars
Second round
Victoria Mboko (Canada, 8) – Anna Kalinskaya (Russia) – 6:2, 3:6, 7:6 (8:6)
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.
