"I'M GETTING OLDER" - ARYNA SABALENKA GETS REAL ABOUT PLAYING IN TOUGH CONDITIONS AFTER REACHING AUSTRALIAN OPEN QF

Aryna Sabalenka shared her honest feelings on playing in the Melbourne heat amid her 2025 Australian Open run (Source: Getty)

Aryna Sabalenka gave her thoughts on playing in Melbourne's tough conditions following her fourth-round win at the ongoing 2025 Australian Open. Sabalenka comfortably dispatched youngster Mirra Andreeva to reach the quarterfinals of the prestigious hardcourt Major, where she is the two-time defending champion.

Daytime conditions in Melbourne have predominantly been hot and humid, and it was quite the same for Sabalenka and Andreeva's fourth-round clash. However, despite this, the Belarusian registered a comprehensive 6-1, 6-2 win over the Russian teen prodigy, firing three aces and converting four out of seven break point opportunities.

During her post-match, on-court interview, Aryna Sabalenka was asked about how she felt competing in the difficult conditions prevalent in Melbourne. The World No. 1 hilariously replied:

"Well, you know, I'm getting older and I'm actually not sure if it's good for me." (at 0:55)

This reply sparked laughter from the crowd in the Rod Laver Arena. Sabalenka proceeded to assess the differences between her third-round win over Clara Tauson and her fourth-round victory against Andreeva.

"No, but I mean, like, previous day was such tough conditions, the ball was so heavy, you had swing really hard at the ball and I don't know, I was just swinging too hard and today, I came out to the court and I was just like trying to put the ball back and the ball was flying like a rocket you know," Sabalenka added.

The Belarusian also expressed her happiness over her level of performance against Andreeva, saying:

"I don't know, I'm super happy with my level today. I hope the conditions help me and I hope it's going to be the same till the end of the tournament and it's going to help me the same way."

A resurgent Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova awaits Aryna Sabalenka in the quarterfinals of the 2025 Australian Open.

Aryna Sabalenka would do well to be wary of former World No. 11 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in Australian Open 2025 QF

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in action at the Australian Open (Image Source: Getty)

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, currently the World No. 32, sealed her own progress to the 2025 Australian Open quarterfinals with a 7-6(0), 6-0 win over No. 18 seed Donna Vekic. Pavlyuchenkova is set to lock horns with Aryna Sabalenka in the quarterfinals, and the Russian has the upper hand against the Belarusian in their WTA Tour-level head-to-head.

The pair's maiden meeting on the WTA Tour came in the 2019 Canadian Open, where Pavlyuchenkova emerged victorious in the Round of 64. Their next meeting came two years later, in the semifinals of the Madrid Open. This time around, the matchup finished in Sabalenka's favor.

Next, they faced each other in the 2021 French Open's Round of 32, with Pavlyuchenkova once again defeating Sabalenka. However, things have changed drastically since then. The Belarusian is a much more improved player now, having worked rigorously on some of her on-court weaknesses.

- Sudipto Pati

IGA SWIATEK LOVINGLY SENDS GRANDFATHER ENDEARING MESSAGE AFTER BEATING EMMA RADUCANU AT AUSTRALIAN OPEN

Iga Swiatek(left) and Emma Raducanu(right). Images: Getty

Iga Swiatek secured a fourth round spot at the 2025 Australian Open with a thundering victory over Emma Raducanu. The 5-time Grand Slam champion won 6-1, 6-0 and later dedicated the victory to her grandfather.

After firing the winning shot, Swiatek waved and acknowledged the crowd before moving to the ritual of the winner signing on the TV camera. She took a while before penning a loving message for her grandfather in Polish.

"Grettings and sending [heart emoji] to my grandpa [heart emoji]," she wrote.

This isn't the first time at the 2025 Australian Open that the World No. 2 has bageled her opponent. After a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Katerina Siniakova in the opening round, she defeated Rebecca Sramkova 6-0, 6-2. Her resounding victory over Raducanu is likely to serve as a warning for her rivals going into the second week of the Melbourne Major.

Swiatek will next face Lucky Loser Eva Lys in the fourth round of the Melbourne Major on Sunday, January 19.

Iga Swiatek elaborates on her heartfelt message to grandfather after R3 win over Emma Raducanu at Australian Open

Iga Swiatek sailed past 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu to enter the fourth round of the 2025 Australian Open.

In a post-match press conference, Swiatek was asked about the time she took to sign the TV camera and whether she struggled to come up with what to write. The Pole replied:

"I'm not really a creative person, so [she chuckled]. That's why I had no idea what to write so I just wrote 'Thanks for the support' and then I actually though a bit more and I asked to write again and yeah, I'm not so smart sometimes," she smiled [at 3:57]

 She elaborated on the message that she eventually wrote dedicating the match to her grandfather.

"I just wanted to dedicate this tournament to my grandpa. I just wanted to send him some nice message because I never did that and I feel like though I had many opportunities before but as I said like these things don't come up to my head," she said [at 4:18].

 "So now I remembered and I used the opportunity because I felt even though it is not the final rounds of the tournament but I'm playing good so even this tournament already has a nice starting to it and I wanted to dedicate it [to him]." she added.

Iga Swiatek will next face Eva Lys and will be looking to better her 2022 semifinal run at the Australian Open.

- Stuti Dutta

NOVAK DJOKOVIC SHOWS SOLIDARITY WITH SERBIAN STUDENT RUN OVER BY CAR DURING ANTI-GOVERNMENT PROTESTS

Novak Djokovic | Image Source: Getty

Novak Djokovic showed his support for the injured Serbian student Sonja Ponjavic, who was run over by a car during the anti-government protests and blockades happening over the past week in Belgrade, Serbia. He did it after his win in the third round of the 2025 Australian Open.

Djokovic sailed through the third round in Melbourne with a 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 win over the Czech tennis player Tomas Machac. After which he took to the broadcast camera to leave a heartfelt note for the injured Sonja.

He further expressed his discontentment with this situation at the post-match press conference:

"I'm sending Sonja support, I was shocked when I saw it. I can't believe what's happening to you, what clicks in someone's head to run over another person, even a woman, a young student. I'm against violence, I call for peace."

The capital city of Serbia has been in a state of unrest since the past year due to protests against corruption and malpractices by the government. Djokovic used his platform to spread his message of harmony in the country and called to action against acts of violence against the protestors.

Novak Djokovic has always been outspoken when it comes to socio-political issues, which he cares about. French Open 2023 witnessed another such incident of him taking to the broadcast camera to spread his message of non-violence.

The Serb wrote:

"Kosovo is the (heart symbol) of Serbia. Stop violence."

Djokovic reflected upon his connection with Kosova as his father hailed from the land and how the post-election political unrest was affecting not just the Kosovars but many Serbs stationed in Kosovo as well.

Even after getting a lot of criticism and hatred online with a possible threat of being warned by the tournament organizers, he did not hesitate to maintain a steady stance on this matter.

On the court, however, the Serb has been successful in maintaining his charm with the racket, albeit with a few hiccups occasionally due to his fitness. He has been making light-hearted jokes every now and then about his age as well in the post-match conferences, which helps the fans assume that his fitness issue is nothing major.

Djokovic is ready to take on another Czech, Jiri Lehecka, in the fourth round of the 2025 Australian Open on January 19, Sunday.

- Aatreyi Sarkar

AUSTRALIAN OPEN: JOAO FONSECA BECOMES SECOND MAN TO ACHIEVE SENSATION FEAT WITH ANDREY RUBLEV WIN

Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca delivered a stunning performance to defeat Andrey Rublev in straight sets in the first round of the 2025 Australian Open.

Fonseca prevailed 7-6(1), 6-3, 7-6(5) against Rublev, the world No 9, on Margaret Court Arena in his first-ever Grand Slam main draw match.

The 18-year-old, who is ranked 112th in the world, outserved and outhit the 27-year-old Russian star in an incredible attacking display.

Asked for his thoughts on the tennis he played, Fonseca said: “I mean, not bad (smiling).

“I just enjoyed every moment in this court, this amazing court, it’s my first time playing in a huge stadium. My first main draw of  Grand Slam, so I just enjoyed playing.

“And I really, really want to thank this amazing crowd, there are some Brazilians here, a lot of Brazilians here who are cheering for me. I enjoyed every moment. Thank you a lot.

“I was just focusing my [on] game, trying to put no pressure on myself playing with a top 10 guy in a huge stadium and just trying to call the crowd to help me. And I just enjoyed playing. I was just playing my game and now I’m in the second round.”

Fonseca is only the second teenager to defeat a player ranked in the top 10 in their maiden Grand Slam main draw match since the ATP Rankings were introduced in 1973.

Mario Ancic, a former world No 7, was the first man to accomplish this, having beaten Roger Federer on his major debut at Wimbledon in 2002.

Fonseca also addressed his ability to raise his level in the tiebreaks in the first and third sets.

“Well, I tried to put all the intensity on the important points and I think it is one thing of myself that on the important points, I play better, I go for the shots and I’m courageous. So yeah, that was the difference today,” the Brazilian explained.

Prior to this victory, Fonseca lost only 12 games across three dominant wins to qualify for the Australian Open.

The 18-year-old will face world No 55 Lorenzo Sonego in the second round in Melbourne. Fonseca beat the 29-year-old Italian in straight sets at the ATP 250 event in Bucharest in April last year.

- tennis365..com