MELBOURNE: Teenage sensation Marta Kostyuk was hailed as the “future of tennis” Wednesday after she became the youngest Australian Open second-round winner since “Swiss Miss” Martina Hingis in 1996.
The 15-year-old was rewarded with an all-Ukrainian clash against fourth seed Elina Svitolina as her fairytale run at the year’s first Grand Slam continued with a win over local wildcard Olivia Rogowska 6-3, 7-5.
It had commentators gushing that Kostyuk was “the future of tennis” as she extended her win streak at Melbourne Park to an incredible 11 matches after lifting the Australian Open girls’ title in 2017 and coming through qualifying this year.
“This is the future, ladies and gentlemen. Fifteen years of age,” said former British number one Sam Smith on Australia’s Channel 7. “This is an incredible story. This is the future of tennis on your screen.”
Before the start of this week Kostyuk’s total career prize money was $6,733, but she already has plans for the bumper $142,500 pay day she will earn even if she loses to Svitolina in the third round.
“Maybe I will get presents for my family, first of all, of course, because I have big family,” she said. “And then for myself a bit. Yeah.”
Playing since the age of five and watched by tennis-playing mum and coach Talina Beyko, who once reached 391st in the world, in her player’s box on Margaret Court Arena, Kostyuk said she had been used to setting new standards.
“I think I broke some records every year so I feel OK about it,” she said.
In the first round she had dismantled Chinese number one and 25th seed Peng Shuai in straight sets in just 57 minutes.
The talented Kostyuk continued in the same vein against Rogowska, taking the first set in 39 minutes.
“I didn’t feel like she was 15 at all,” said Rogowska. “I feel she’s going to be a dangerous player when she grows up. Obviously she had some silly errors, I think with experience she’ll clean that up.”
Svitolina clearly knows what to expect when she faces her young compatriot on Friday.
“I little bit watched her first round,” said the world number four after coming through a three-set battle against Katerina Siniakova.
“You know, she has nothing to lose, she goes just for everything. You know, a little bit like a headless chicken.”
The youngster is managed by former player Ivan Ljubicic, Roger Federer’s coach, and said she was pleased to have such experience in her corner.
“He is always helping me, telling me what was wrong, even when I win,” she said laughing. “I am lucky to have his experience.”
And long hours of practice, she said, was the key to her success.
“Well, I heard a lot of times that I’m talented, and I know that,” she told reporters with all the swagger of confident youth.
“But I know that only talent will not help me to play good. So I can say that I’m working pretty hard.”
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‘Future of tennis’ Marta Kostyuk to face fourth seed next
‘Future of tennis’ Marta Kostyuk to face fourth seed next
Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics open with dazzling ceremony
- The extravaganza reflected the most geographically widespread Olympics in history
MILAN: The Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics opened on Friday with a glittering ceremony at the San Siro stadium echoed by festivities at Games venues across the snow-capped Italian Alps.
The extravaganza reflected the most geographically widespread Olympics in history.
It culminated in the lighting of two cauldrons, one at Milan’s Arch of Peace and one in Cortina d’Ampezzo, the chic resort 400 kilometers from Milan that is hosting the women’s alpine skiing.
Alberto Tomba and Deborah Compagnoni, two Italian skiing Olympic champions of the past, lit an intricate cauldron inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s knot patterns at Milan’s Arch of Peace.
In the freezing mountain air of Cortina, the task fell to Sofia Goggia — an Italian former gold medalist who had earlier taken part in a training run for the women’s downhill event.
The ceremony in Milan showcased Italy’s rich cultural heritage, with a nod to late fashion giant Giorgio Armani.
An otherwise harmonious event was punctuated by loud boos from the crowd when US Vice President JD Vance appeared on the big screen at the San Siro stadium.
But the US team received loud applause from spectators as they began their parade.
There has been anger in Italy over the presence of agents from the US immigration enforcement agency ICE as part of security for the American delegation, even though the Italian government has said the agents will not have any operational role on its soil.
Performers at the San Siro show wore outsized heads of the three great masters of Italian opera — Giuseppe Verdi, Giacomo Puccini and Gioachino Rossini while American diva Mariah Carey, in a white sequined dress with feathers, sang “Volare” in Italian and “Nothing is Impossible.”
Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli got a rapturous reception after performing “Nessun Dorma” and dozens of models honored Armani by streaming across the stage wearing red, green, and white trouser suits.
Italian President Sergio Mattarella declared the Games open after International Olympic Committee chief Kirsty Coventry told the competitors: “You remind us that we can be brave, that we can be kind, that we can get back up, no matter how hard we fall.”
In a first, 2,900 athletes paraded in the venues closest to where they will compete in the February 6-22 Games, in a bid to minimize travel.
Remarkable Vonn
Earlier Friday, Lindsey Vonn, the biggest star at the Milan-Cortina Olympics, passed a crucial test of her injured knee.
The American skier successfully completed her first training run for the women’s downhill event, despite competing with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.
It kept alive the 41-year-old’s hopes of medal glory in Italy.
Vonn won her only Olympic gold at the Vancouver Games, 16 years ago, but also has two bronze medals.
A top-three placing in Sunday’s final would cap a remarkable comeback from retirement that has been elevated to extraordinary by the injury she suffered in a pre-Olympics race.
Wearing a knee brace, Vonn completed the run at Cortina without apparent difficulty.
Before skiing she posted on Instagram: “Nothing makes me happier! No one would have believed I would be here... but I made it!!... I’m not going to waste this chance.”
Asked by reporters after the race if everything was “all good,” Vonn responded simply “yeah.”
Competitive action in the figure skating began, with defending champions the United States taking an early lead in the team event thanks to world champion ice dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates.
The men’s downhill race, one of the prestige events, kicks off the first full day of action on Saturday.
China’s freestyle skier Eileen Gu, one of the faces of the 2022 Games in Beijing, launches her bid for triple gold as the women’s slopestyle gets underway at Livigno Snow Park.
The extravaganza reflected the most geographically widespread Olympics in history.
It culminated in the lighting of two cauldrons, one at Milan’s Arch of Peace and one in Cortina d’Ampezzo, the chic resort 400 kilometers from Milan that is hosting the women’s alpine skiing.
Alberto Tomba and Deborah Compagnoni, two Italian skiing Olympic champions of the past, lit an intricate cauldron inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s knot patterns at Milan’s Arch of Peace.
In the freezing mountain air of Cortina, the task fell to Sofia Goggia — an Italian former gold medalist who had earlier taken part in a training run for the women’s downhill event.
The ceremony in Milan showcased Italy’s rich cultural heritage, with a nod to late fashion giant Giorgio Armani.
An otherwise harmonious event was punctuated by loud boos from the crowd when US Vice President JD Vance appeared on the big screen at the San Siro stadium.
But the US team received loud applause from spectators as they began their parade.
There has been anger in Italy over the presence of agents from the US immigration enforcement agency ICE as part of security for the American delegation, even though the Italian government has said the agents will not have any operational role on its soil.
Performers at the San Siro show wore outsized heads of the three great masters of Italian opera — Giuseppe Verdi, Giacomo Puccini and Gioachino Rossini while American diva Mariah Carey, in a white sequined dress with feathers, sang “Volare” in Italian and “Nothing is Impossible.”
Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli got a rapturous reception after performing “Nessun Dorma” and dozens of models honored Armani by streaming across the stage wearing red, green, and white trouser suits.
Italian President Sergio Mattarella declared the Games open after International Olympic Committee chief Kirsty Coventry told the competitors: “You remind us that we can be brave, that we can be kind, that we can get back up, no matter how hard we fall.”
In a first, 2,900 athletes paraded in the venues closest to where they will compete in the February 6-22 Games, in a bid to minimize travel.
Remarkable Vonn
Earlier Friday, Lindsey Vonn, the biggest star at the Milan-Cortina Olympics, passed a crucial test of her injured knee.
The American skier successfully completed her first training run for the women’s downhill event, despite competing with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.
It kept alive the 41-year-old’s hopes of medal glory in Italy.
Vonn won her only Olympic gold at the Vancouver Games, 16 years ago, but also has two bronze medals.
A top-three placing in Sunday’s final would cap a remarkable comeback from retirement that has been elevated to extraordinary by the injury she suffered in a pre-Olympics race.
Wearing a knee brace, Vonn completed the run at Cortina without apparent difficulty.
Before skiing she posted on Instagram: “Nothing makes me happier! No one would have believed I would be here... but I made it!!... I’m not going to waste this chance.”
Asked by reporters after the race if everything was “all good,” Vonn responded simply “yeah.”
Competitive action in the figure skating began, with defending champions the United States taking an early lead in the team event thanks to world champion ice dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates.
The men’s downhill race, one of the prestige events, kicks off the first full day of action on Saturday.
China’s freestyle skier Eileen Gu, one of the faces of the 2022 Games in Beijing, launches her bid for triple gold as the women’s slopestyle gets underway at Livigno Snow Park.
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