TENNIS

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Novak Djokovic has received a timely boost in his pursuit of a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title after fourth-round opponent Jakub Mensik withdrew from the Australian Open because of an abdominal injury.

The Serbian great was due to face the 20-year-old Czech on Monday night in Melbourne but will now advance directly to the quarter-finals without playing. Djokovic will meet either Italy's fifth seed Lorenzo Musetti or American ninth seed Taylor Fritz for a place in the semi-finals.

Sabalenka's performance at the Queensland Tennis Centre underlined her status as the player to beat heading into the first Grand Slam of the season. She overpowered Muchova with her trademark aggression and control from the baseline, despite having lost their previous three meetings. The Czech player, a runner-up at the French Open in 2023, struggled to contain Sabalenka's intensity, particularly on serve and return.

Although Sabalenka missed three match points late in the contest, she remained composed and sealed the win when Muchova sent a shot long. Speaking afterwards, Sabalenka said she was pleased to finally turn the tide against a player she respects highly, adding that she always enjoys competing against Muchova.

The 27-year-old will now face Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk in Sunday's final. Kostyuk, ranked 26 in the world, advanced with a dominant 6-0 6-3 win over fourth seed Jessica Pegula. Sabalenka has won all four of her previous matches against Kostyuk without dropping a set, a record that gives her confidence heading into the decider.

In the men's draw at Brisbane, Brandon Nakashima set up a final meeting with top seed Daniil Medvedev. Nakashima claimed a 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 semi-final win over Aleksandar Kovacevic, while Medvedev, the 2021 US Open champion, defeated Alex Michelsen 6-4 6-2 to reach the final.

Attention also turned to the United Cup, where Switzerland reached the final for the first time with a 2-1 victory over Belgium in Sydney. Belinda Bencic and Jakub Paul secured the decisive mixed doubles match by beating Elise Mertens and Zizou Bergs 6-3 0-6 10-5 after a match tie-break. Earlier, Bencic had defeated Mertens in singles, maintaining her perfect eight-match winning record at the United Cup.

Switzerland will meet Poland in the final after Poland edged past defending champions the United States 2-1. Coco Gauff levelled the tie by beating Iga Swiatek 6-4 6-2, but Poland clinched the deciding mixed doubles to progress. The Australian Open begins on 18 January and runs until 1 February.

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Naomi Osaka combined high fashion with a high-stakes performance on Tuesday, arriving for her Australian Open opener in a veil, a wide-brimmed hat, and carrying a white parasol. Despite the potential for the bold entrance to overshadow her play, Osaka secured a hard-fought 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 victory over Antonia Ruzic. The win at Rod Laver Arena successfully brought Day 3 to a close, ensuring her "opening act" was backed by a critical first-round result.

The hat and umbrella were adorned with symbolic butterflies, a nod to one of the memorable moments of Osaka's last title run at Melbourne Park in 2021 rather than a reflection of the usual first-round jitters at a major tournament.

"When I was playing today, I just told myself, like, 'Keep your head on the path. If she beats you, then that's unfortunate. But, hey, at least you're trending,'" on social media, she said.

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World number one Aryna Sabalenka continued her strong start to the season by defeating Australian Open champion Madison Keys to reach the semi-finals of the Brisbane International, strengthening her preparations for the first Grand Slam of the year.

The match was a repeat of last year's Australian Open final, where Keys claimed a three-set victory, but this time Sabalenka asserted her authority with a composed 6-3 6-3 win. The Belarusian has her sights set on a third Australian Open title in four years after lifting the trophy in 2023 and 2024, and her performance in Brisbane underlined her intent.

At 27, Sabalenka has already collected four major titles and has yet to drop a set this week. She has conceded only 13 games across three matches, highlighting both her consistency and sharpness at the beginning of the campaign. Speaking after the match, the defending Brisbane champion said her previous loss to Keys provided motivation, but insisted she treats every encounter as a fresh challenge rather than dwelling on past results.

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Novak Djokovic delivered a masterful serving display as he claimed his 100th victory at the Australian Open, defeating Spain's Pedro Martinez in straight sets.

The world number four, aiming for a record 25th Grand Slam singles title, dropped just five points on serve out of 57 during a two-hour performance that showcased his serving precision. The 38-year-old recorded eight holds to love, lost only one point in each of the second and third sets, and won 93 percent of points behind his first serve while maintaining a 77 percent first-serve rate. He closed out the match with his 14th ace, winning 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.