MELBOURNE: A ruthless Ashleigh Barty swept into her first Australian Open final on Thursday with the top seed outgunning a resurgent Madison Keys in a clinical, straight-sets demolition.
The world number one overwhelmed the 51st-ranked American 6-1, 6-3 in just 62 minutes to set up showdown against either Polish seventh seed Iga Swiatek or American 27th seed Danielle Collins.
Barty is the first Australian woman into the decider of her home Grand Slam since Wendy Turnbull in 1980 and is aiming to become the first winner since Chris O’Neil two years earlier.
She is also looking to add to her 2020 French Open and 2021 Wimbledon 2021 titles, with the top seed on an ominous 10-match win streak to start the year.
“Honestly, it’s just incredible. I’m just happy I get to play my best tennis here,” said Barty, who is assured of retaining her world number one ranking even if she loses the final.
“The ball was a little slower tonight, heavier off the strings. I just tried to run and adapt, make as many balls as I could and keep Maddie under the pump on her serve because she has the ability to really take it away from you quickly.”
Barty paid tribute to Keys, a former top-10 player who is on the rise again after difficult couple of years.
“It’s just so nice to see her back where she belongs,” said Barty. “She’s an amazing human being.”
Barty has been unassailable in Melbourne, dropping her serve just once through six matches and is yet to drop a set.
And the top seed, who played cricket with her team on Wednesday to relax, was once more in full command of her game with an attacking forehand and lethal backhand slice.
Facing Barty on her home turf was an unenviable assignment for 26-year-old Keys, but she came into the game on a 10-match win streak, the best run of her career.
The Australian, though, immediately pressured her serve to create a break point that she converted with a cross-court winner to assert early control.
She consolidated with a serve to love as Keys struggled to get her racquet on the ball before the American gained confidence with a hold for 1-2.
The American was broken again in the fifth game, as her unforced error count mounted.
She finally won her first points on the Barty serve in the next game and gained a break point when Barty sent a looping forehand long. But the Australian saved it with an ace and stormed 5-1 in front.
Keys’ first double fault handed Barty two set points and she slammed a forehand return to take the set in just 26 minutes.
Keys had beaten top 10 players Paula Badosa and Barbora Krejcikova back-to-back to make the last four and was more composed as her nerves settled in set two.
It went with serve to 2-2 before Keys worked a break point in the fifth game only to be denied by a Barty volley, before the Australian held.
Barty then stepped up a gear in the next game, earning three break points. Keys saved two before a passing shot put her 4-2 clear and there was no way back for the American.
Top seed Ashleigh Barty crushes Madison Keys to make Australian Open final
https://arab.news/c23g5
Top seed Ashleigh Barty crushes Madison Keys to make Australian Open final
- The world number one overwhelmed the 51st-ranked American 6-1, 6-3 in just 62 minutes
Rugby and judo take center stage in latest Saudi Games action
RIYADH: The rugby competitions of the Saudi Games concluded on Friday at the Riyadh Club, with 82 players from six clubs participating.
The Saudi Warriors team secured first place and the gold medal, while Jeddah's team earned the silver, and the Riyadh Falcons took the bronze. The winners were presented with their medals by Ali Al-Dajani, chairman of the Saudi Rugby Federation.
In the judo competitions, both men’s and women’s winners were awarded their prizes by Abdulaziz Al-Bassam, president of the Saudi Judo Federation.
In the men’s -81 kg weight category, Abdullah Hammad from Al-Ula clinched gold, while his teammate Suleiman Hammad won silver. Bronze medals were awarded to Abdulilah Al-Bali (Al-Ula) and Mohammed Al-Harbi (Al-Ittihad).
In the +81 kg weight category, Mohammed Al-Hajri (Al-Qadisiyah) took home the gold, with Naif Mazyou (Al-Ula) earning silver. Rakan Zaidan (Al-Tai) and Rakan Al-Dosari (Al-Qadisiyah) secured bronze.
In the 66 kg category, Abdulaziz Al-Bishi (Al-Ula) claimed the top spot with gold, while Issa Majrashi (Al-Ula) took silver, and Abdullah Al-Faraidhi (Al-Shabab) along with Abdulmajeed Khurrd (Al-Bajadiyah) received bronze.
For the women’s 63 kg category, Ghada Al-Otaibi (Al-Qadisiyah) emerged victorious with the gold medal, while Karen Shamas (Al-Ula) took silver. Bronze medals were awarded to Sandance Al-Sharif (Al-Bajadiyah) and Raghad Al-Zahrani (Al-Qadisiyah).
There was also action in handball, volleyball, equestrian, weightlifting, golf, gymnastics, rock climbing and triathlon.
‘Sure bet’ Zubimendi can replace injured Rodri: Spain coach
- “If Rodri is the best player then Zubimendi is the second best in this position,” De la Fuente told a news conference
- “He’s got experience under his belt, he oozes security through every pore of his skin”
MADRID: Spain coach Luis de la Fuente backed midfielder Martin Zubimendi on Friday to deputise for injured star Rodri Hernandez in the months ahead.
Manchester City’s Rodri, a key player for his country, suffered a severe knee injury in September and will be out for the rest of the season.
Rodri was vital in holding midfield as Spain clinched Euro 2024 victory this summer but Real Sociedad midfielder Zubimendi, 25, also made a big impact in the final.
Zubimendi replaced the injured Rodri at half-time against England in the Berlin final as La Roja triumphed 2-1 with two goals after the break.
“Zubimendi has been playing (brilliant) games for a long time, if Rodri is the best player then Zubimendi is the second best in this position,” De la Fuente told a news conference.
“He’s got experience under his belt, he oozes security through every pore of his skin.
“Martin doesn’t get nervous... he’s a very mature player, so calm... Zubi is a sure bet, who never fails.”
Nations League champions Spain, second in group A4, host leaders Denmark on Saturday in Murcia, before welcoming Serbia to Cordoba on Tuesday.
They are also without Real Madrid right-back Dani Carvajal, who is also set to miss the season with a knee injury, and explosive winger Nico Williams with a minor knock, among others.
“We’re not going to cry, we’re not going to make excuses about missing players, the ones who are here are very good too, also the best (players in the world) for me,” continued the coach.
“Whoever is playing tomorrow in the place of Nico, or Rodri, or Dani, are absolutely great... they will give us more tactical richness.
“We’re not going to change anything in terms of our plan or our idea of football... the idea is very clear.”
De la Fuente said injuries were the “ugliest” part of football, but they also created opportunities.
“Nobody is irreplacable... those who get the chance, albeit for unfortunate reasons, it’s the time to take advantage of it,” added De la Fuente.
Al-Ahli’s Ali Majrashi called up for Kingdom’s clash with Bahrain on Tuesday
- Green Falcons resumed training on Friday evening at their camp
JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s head coach Roberto Mancini has called up Al-Ahli’s defender Ali Majrashi for his side’s 2026 World Cup qualifying match against Bahrain on Tuesday.
After losing 2-0 to Japan in Jeddah on Thursday — their first defeat in the third round of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup — the Green Falcons resumed training on Friday evening at their camp in preparation for the Bahrain clash.
The two Gulf national teams face each other at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah.
It is believed that Mancini called up Majrashi as right-back Saud Abdulhamid will be unavailable due to suspension after receiving two yellow cards.
Mancini divided the players into two groups during training on Friday. The first group consisted of the players who had started the match against Japan, and they were assigned recovery exercises in the gym.
The second group included the rest of the players, who trained at the King Abdullah Sports City with warm-up exercises and passing practice. The players then went on to various tactical exercises and stretches.
The national team will continue their preparation program on Saturday with a closed training session at King Abdullah Sports City at 6 p.m.
Djokovic ‘overwhelmed’ after ‘greatest rival’ Nadal’s retirement
- He clashed 60 times with Djokovic, who edged their rivalry 31-29
- “He remains the greatest rival that I ever had,” said Djokovic
SHANGHAI: Novak Djokovic said Friday he was “overwhelmed” by the news of Rafael Nadal’s retirement and called the Spaniard “the greatest rival that I ever had,” but said he has no plans to stop.
Nadal announced Thursday that he will step back from tennis after the Davis Cup finals in November, ending his 22 Grand Slam-winning career.
He clashed 60 times with Djokovic, who edged their rivalry 31-29.
“He remains the greatest rival that I ever had. He has impacted me a lot as a player, my development, he has inspired a lot of people around the world,” said Djokovic, speaking after he beat 19-year-old Jakub Mensik in three sets to progress to the Shanghai Masters semifinals.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion said that the news had come as a shock despite the Spaniard’s struggles with injury.
The 37-year-old Serb is now the last man standing from tennis’s golden era, with Roger Federer retiring in 2022, and Andy Murray calling it quits this year too.
“I’m playing, you know, still keep going... but part of me left with them, that’s for sure,” mused Djokovic.
“The era of the four musketeers, so to say, the four of us and all the rivalries we had was incredible,” he said.
“I’m a bit overwhelmed, to be honest, but, you know, I still have the desire to play.
“Fighting against a 19-year-old for two and a half hours on the court is something that still drives me... and I try to get the best out of myself.”
Real Madrid defender Dani Carvajal undergoes surgery on his right knee
- The Spanish club called the surgery successful
- The player would start his recovery process in the coming days
MADRID: Spain defender Dani Carvajal has undergone surgery on his right knee, his club Real Madrid said Friday.
The Spanish club called the surgery successful and said the player would start his recovery process in the coming days.
Carvajal suffered his likely season-ending injury during a Spanish league game last weekend. He was diagnosed with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament, a ruptured external collateral ligament and a ruptured popliteus tendon in his right leg.
Shortly after his injury, the club said it had agreed with the 32-year-old right back to extend his contract until June 2026.
Carvajal helped Spain win the European Championship in July.
