All posts tagged: Elena

Elena Rybakina wins first Australian Open title, defeats Aryna Sabalenka in final | Tennis News

Elena Rybakina wins first Australian Open title, defeats Aryna Sabalenka in final | Tennis News

Published by Webster

2 min readJan 31, 2026 04:46 PM IST Elena Rybakina won her first Australian Open title when she defeated Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in the final on Saturday. Four years ago she won the first set but lost the final in three. This time, after breaking in the first game and taking the first set, she rallied after losing the second set and going down 3-0 in the third. She won five straight games and then closed out with an ace on her first championship point. It was a second major title for fifth-seeded Rybakina, who won Wimbledon in 2022 and entered that final four years ago as the only major winner in the contest. In the first Grand Slam final ‍since ⁠2008 featuring players yet to drop a set, it was top seed Sabalenka who blinked first under the Rod Laver Arena roof as Rybakina came out all ​guns blazing to break in ‌the opening game and wrest control. The Kazakh fifth seed’s huge ball-striking caused all sorts ​of problems for twice champion …

Daniil Medvedev, Elena Rybakina set to enthral fans as World Tennis League to make India debut on December 17

Daniil Medvedev, Elena Rybakina set to enthral fans as World Tennis League to make India debut on December 17

Published by Parlour News

A clutch of top international stars, including former US Open champion Daniil Medvedev and 2022 Wimbledon winner Elena Rybakina, are set to enthral fans in India when the World Tennis League makes its debut here on December 17. Daniil Medvedev and 2022 Wimbledon winner Elena Rybakina are set to enthral fans in India.(AFP) This is the first time that the four-day event, which began in 2022, has been taken out of the UAE, and the fourth edition will be played at the SM Krishna Tennis Stadium. Apart from Medvedev and Rybakina, temperamental Australian Nick Kyrgios, French star Gael Monfils and former women’s world No. 2 Paula Badosa will be seen in action. Rohan Bopanna, who retired from top-level tennis recently, Sumit Nagal, Yuki Bhambri, Ankita Raina, Shrivalli Bhamidipaty and Maaya Revathi will ensure Indian representation in the league. Talking about her first appearance in India, World No. 5 Rybakina said, “I’ve heard so much about the tennis culture in India, and I’m thrilled to make my debut here with WTL. I’m ready to enjoy every …

WTA Finals 2025: Why Elena Rybakina may have declined a photo with WTA chief Portia Archer after winning the title | Tennis News

WTA Finals 2025: Why Elena Rybakina may have declined a photo with WTA chief Portia Archer after winning the title | Tennis News

Published by Webster

Former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina won the WTA Finals on Sunday, beating Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 7-6 (7-0) in Saudi Arabia. Apart from the sensational win, the other major talking point that emerged post the victory was her refusal to get involved with the celebrations, including not taking a photo with WTA chief Portia Archer. The 26-year-old stood separate from both her opponent and Archer during the post-match celebrations, despite being asked to join them. While Rybakina did not wish to divulge the reason behind not taking the photo with Archer, a possible cause could be an incident involving her coach, Stefano Vukov, who was suspended earlier in February after he was found to have breached the WTA’s code of conduct. Story continues below this ad The suspension was succeeded by an independent investigation into his behaviour towards Rybakina, who insisted that Vukov had not conducted himself in an inappropriate manner. The 38-year-old also denied any inappropriate behaviour on his part, and six months later, was cleared of any wrongdoing in August and was present at …

Mirra Andreeva Holds Off Elena Rybakina To Become Youngest WTA 1000 Finalist

Mirra Andreeva Holds Off Elena Rybakina To Become Youngest WTA 1000 Finalist

Published by Webster

Teenager Mirra Andreeva toppled another seed at the Dubai Championships, upsetting Elena Rybakina on Friday to become the youngest player to reach the final of a WTA 1000 tournament. The Russian 17-year-old fought back from 1-3 down in the deciding set to beat seventh-seeded Rybakina 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 and move into the first WTA 1000 final of her career. Andreeva is the youngest player to beat multiple Grand Slam champions at a tournament of this level. She has ousted Iga Swiatek, Marketa Vondrousova, and now Rybakina, en route to the final. She awaits Clara Tauson or Karolina Muchova in Saturday’s championship match. The players had met once before, in Beijing in 2023, when Rybakina won in three sets. “Last time we played was a really tough match,” said Andreeva. “I had a lot of opportunities and she, as a really experienced player, just didn’t give me a chance and went for her shots and killed me in the end.” A punishing backhand return from Andreeva earned her the first break of the match …

Elena Rybakina Relying On ‘Physio Magic’ After Back Spasm Concern At Australian Open 2025

Elena Rybakina Relying On ‘Physio Magic’ After Back Spasm Concern At Australian Open 2025

Published by Webster

Elena Rybakina in action at Australian Open 2025.© AFP Former Australian Open finalist Elena Rybakina said she will need some “magic” from her physio if she wants to go further in the tournament after a back spasm flared up during her third-round win on Saturday. Sixth seed Rybakina left the court after just three games for a medical timeout and treatment before beating Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska 6-3, 6-4. Kazkhstan’s Rybakina was clearly hampered during the match. She opted to shorten rallies and shoot mainly for winners as she managed to get through to the second week for only the second time after reaching the final in 2023, when she lost to Aryna Sabalenka. “Honestly, I didn’t know how it was going to go because it came all of a sudden,” Rybakina, who was aided by 37 unforced errors from 32nd seed Yastremska, said of the back issue. “I needed to stay there and try to hold my serve. I knew that it would be very difficult for me to stay long in the …

World Number Six Elena Rybakina Makes Winning Start At United Cup

World Number Six Elena Rybakina Makes Winning Start At United Cup

Published by Webster

World number six Elena Rybakina led Kazakhstan to a 2-1 defeat of Spain on Friday, as the former Wimbledon champion made a winning start to the season at the United Cup mixed-team event. The All England Club winner from 2022 clinched the opening tie of the 18-nation ATP-WTA event, which begins the 2025 year in Perth and Sydney. Each team features three men and three women, with ties comprising one men’s and one women’s singles and an often decisive mixed-doubles clash. Rybakina and Alexander Shevchenko produced a 7-6 (7/4), 6-7 (2/7), 10-7 result over Spaniards Pablo Carreno Busta and Yvonne Cavalle-Reimers in the mixed doubles to earn the win. “It was a really tough one, first matches are always difficult,” Rybakina said. “It’s not easy to get used to it that quick, but I’m really happy with the way I played today.” Rybakina, who won three titles in her first eight tournaments last season before being sidelined by injuries and illness, secured the first point for the Kazakhs, defeating Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-2, …

Grigor Dimitrov ousts top-seed Carlos Alcaraz in Miami Open quarters; Elena Rybakina in final | Tennis News

Published by Parlour News

Eleventh-seeded Grigor Dimitrov came out strong against top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz on Thursday night and went on to win 6-2, 6-4 in the Miami Open quarterfinals, his first victory over a top-five player in nearly five years. Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria celebrates after defeating Carlos Alcaraz of Spain during the Miami Open tennis tournament(AP) Fourth-seeded Alexander Zverev, who beat unseeded Fabian Marozsan 6-3, 7-5, will play Dimitrov in the semifinals Friday. Second-seeded Jannik Sinner will face No. 3 Daniil Medvedev in the other semifinal, a rematch of last year’s final that Medvedev won. Hindustan Times – your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Alcaraz, the 2022 champion, entered this tournament off a victory over Medvedev at Indian Wells. But the world’s second-ranked player had trouble finding his game against Dimitrov and became visibly frustrated numerous times in the first set. Alcaraz, however, didn’t go away even after falling behind a break at 4-2 in the second set. He broke Dimitrov at love and then held serve to even the set at 4-4. But then Dimitrov …

‘Elena Norman did a commendable job’- Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey

Published by Webster

Former Hockey India Chief Executive Officer Elena Norman resigned two days back after a 13-year-long stint. Despite her leaving in an uncomfortable circumstance, Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey on Thursday praised outgoing CEO Elena Norman, saying that he appreciates the Australian’s contribution towards the growth of the sport. The former captain, however, rejected Norman’s claim of factionalism in HI, saying all is well within the federation. “Since taking over, we have done good work and I appreciate it. We have seen the performance of the teams in the past two years. Our CEO has done commendable work for Indian hockey. We appreciate her efforts and contribution,” Tirkey said in a media interaction. Tirkey’s comments came a day after he and Singh issued a joint statement denying Norman’s assertion of a rift between them. Norman resigned on Tuesday and in an interview with PTI she alleged that there was factionalism in the body. The 49-year-old Australian suggested that Tirkey and Singh were at loggerheads and also complained of a difficult work environment. “There are two factions …

“Environment Was Becoming Suffocating”: Elena Norman, Outgoing Hockey India CEO

Published by Webster

Outgoing Hockey India CEO Elena Norman on Tuesday said the work environment in HI was “suffocating” and she had no choice but to call it quits. After holding the position for 13 years, Norman resigned and even though HI did not reveal the specific reasons for her decision in its official statement, the Australian spoke out on what pushed her to exit. “Absolutely, it was getting tough to deliver in the fight between two factions. The environment was becoming suffocating,” Norman told PTI in an interview. “There are two factions in Hockey India. There is (President) Dilip Tirkey and I and there is (Secretary) Bholanath Singh, (Executive Director) Cdr. R K Srivastava and (Treasurer) Sekar J Manoharan,” she said. “There are guys who want power and then there is (HI President) Dilip (Tirkey) who is a nice guy, only after betterment of Indian hockey,” the 49-year-old explained. What aggravated the entire situation was the non-payment of her remuneration for three months. “There were some issues (regarding my salary) and after much persuasion that got cleared …

“It Was Getting Tough”: Elena Norman, Outgoing Hockey India CEO

Published by Webster

Outgoing Hockey India CEO Elena Norman on Tuesday said the work environment in HI was “difficult” and she had no choice but to call it quits. After holding the position for 13 years, Norman resigned and even though HI did not reveal the specific reasons for her decision in its official statement, the Australian spoke out on what pushed her to exit. “Absolutely, it was getting tough to deliver in the fight between two factions,” Norman told PTI in an interview. “There are two factions in Hockey India. There is (President) Dilip Tirkey and I and there is (Secretary) Bholanath Singh, (Executive Director) Cdr. R K Srivastava and (Treasurer) Sekar J Manoharan,” she said. “There are guys who want power and then there is (HI President) Dilip (Tirkey) who is a nice guy, only after betterment of Indian hockey,” the 49-year-old explained. What aggravated the entire situation was the non-payment of her remuneration for three months. “There were some issues (regarding my salary) and after much persuasion that got cleared last week,” Norman said. Her …