MELBOURNE, Australia: Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina eliminated No. 1-ranked Iga Swiatek in straight sets Sunday to reach the Australian Open quarterfinals for the first time.
The 22nd-seeded Rybakina used her big serving to unsettle Swiatek and got the better of their baseline exchanges to win 6-4, 6-4 in about 1 1/2 hours.
Swiatek is a three-time major champion, including titles at the French Open and US Open last season.
Rybakina’s ranking does not properly reflect her ability or results because her championship at the All England Club last July did not come with any ranking points. The WTA and ATP tours withheld all points at Wimbledon in 2022 after the All England Club barred players from Russia and Belarus from participating because of the invasion of Ukraine.
Rybakina was born in Moscow but has represented Kazakhstan since 2018, when that country offered her funding to support her tennis career.
Despite her status as a major champion, Rybakina has been out of the spotlight: Her first-round match at Melbourne Park was placed on tiny Court 13 last Monday; her match against two-time Slam champ Garbiñe Muguruza at least year’s US Open was on Court 4.
But her game is worthy of much more attention, as she displayed in knocking out Swiatek at Rod Laver Arena.
Rybakina hit six aces and compiled a 24-15 edge in winners against the 21-year-old from Poland, who was a semifinalist a year ago in Australia. That followed Rybakina’s victory over 2022 runner-up Danielle Collins in the third round.
Until Sunday, Swiatek had looked fairly dominant, winning every set she contested and dropping a total of just 15 games through three matches.
Kazakhstan’s Rybakina eliminates No. 1 Swiatek from Australian Open
https://arab.news/5hxc9
Kazakhstan’s Rybakina eliminates No. 1 Swiatek from Australian Open
- Wimbledon champion Rybakina was born in Moscow but has represented Kazakhstan since 2018
- Swiatek is a three-time major champion, including titles at the French Open and US Open last season
German star Marco Reus extends his stay with the LA Galaxy through 2027
- The Galaxy announced the extension Saturday for the 36-year-old Reus
- He has 22 goal contributions in 42 matches, including five goals and nine assists last season
CALIFORNIA: German midfielder Marco Reus has extended his contract with the LA Galaxy through December 2027.
The Galaxy announced the extension Saturday for the 36-year-old Reus, who joined the Major League Soccer club in August 2024 after 12 successful years with Borussia Dortmund.
Reus immediately played an important role in the Galaxy’s surge to their league-record sixth MLS Cup championship in late 2024, and he has been largely outstanding when healthy during his stateside tenure. He has 22 goal contributions in 42 matches, including five goals and nine assists last season.
“Marco brings an incredible level of quality, experience and leadership to our group,” Galaxy general manager Will Kuntz said in a statement.
“His professionalism and standards elevate everyone around him, both on the pitch and in the locker room. We’re excited that Marco will continue to be a part of the Galaxy family.”
Before he joined the Galaxy, Reus scored 170 goals from 2012 to 2024 for his hometown club and was twice selected as the German Footballer of the Year. Dortmund reached two Champions League finals while Reus became only the third player in Bundesliga history to have 100 goals and 100 assists.
Reus also was a regular for the German national team for more than a decade, but untimely injuries prevented him from playing in three of the four World Cup tournaments during that stretch.
Reus has been the Galaxy’s captain for two matches early this year, and he assisted on their first goal of the season last week.
