ATP/WTA: Sabalenka and Team USA land instant silverware

Sabalenka strikes again in Australia

World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka fired out a warning signal to her major rivals by collecting the Brisbane International silverware. The 26-year-old, double-defending champion at the Australian Open, battled past world No.107 qualifier Polina Kudermetova 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 for an 18th career title.

It was a real breakout for Kudermetova, having taken out seeded Liudmila Samsonova (13) and Daria Kasatkina (3) en route to a maiden WTA final, whilst Sabalenka maintained her momentum from a 6-3, 6-2 semi-final scoreline overcoming Mirra Andreeva.

"I definitely feel my game pretty well," said Sabalenka. "Mentally, physically I'll be ready to go at the Australian Open. Really happy with the way the week went. Having this trophy going to the major, it's really important.

"I'm just excited. I love playing there. I love to fight for my dream. That's the conditions where I feel really comfortable in. I'm just super exciting heading to the Australian Open."

Sabalenka is bidding to become the first woman to win three consecutive Australian Open crowns since Martina Hingis ruled in 1997 to 1999.

In the ATP event, Jiri Lehecka lifted his second ATP Tour title when Reilly Opelka, who dismissed Novak Djokovic 7-6(6), 6-3 in the quarter-finals, was forced to retire in the early exchanges with a back injury.

Stars and stripes team up for glory again

The United States have regained the United Cup in emphatic fashion.

Spearheaded by elite stars Coco Gauff and Taylor Fritz, the 2023 winners won all five ties in the mixed-gender tournament in Australia. In fact, Gauff didn't drop a set across the 20-year-old's five singles bouts and Fritz bounced back from an opening loss to Felix Auger-Aliassime to succeed in his next four matches.

In the final facing Poland, an inspired Gauff edged Iga Swiatek 6-4, 6-4, prior to Fritz's finely-poised 6-4, 5-7, 7-6(4) victory over Hubert Hurkacz.

"I have the belief that I'm one of the best players in the world and when I play good tennis I'm hard to beat," said Gauff, who was awarded the tournament MVP. "Today I think I played some great tennis…. It's great to win a team event, the only team event I've ever won, so I'm super excited."

Tauson awesome in Auckland

In the ASB Classic final in Auckland, New Zealand, former world No.1 Naomi Osaka led Clara Tauson 6-4 on Sunday. Unfortunately, the four-time major winner then suddenly retired due to an abdominal injury.

As a result, Tauson was hailed WTA champion for the third time in her career. The 22-year-old had saved match point earlier in the event against Australian Open 2020 winner Sofia Kenin. On Saturday, the Dane was on double duty, managing to down No.1 seed Madison Keys in a rain-interrupted clash, prior to a straight sets passage past Robin Montgomery.

"It’s not the way you want to win any match, and especially not the final," said world No.41 Tauson after the final. "I felt like I had some more tennis to show today.

"I’m looking forward to going to Australia. Hopefully I can back this up with some great results there. It’s definitely a nice start to the season with the title, it’s my first one since 2021, so it’s been a while for me."

Muller goes the distance for glory

Five matches, five comebacks from a set deficit – Alexandre Muller certainly earned his maiden ATP title at the Hong Kong Open.

The Frenchman denied former world No.4 Kei Nishikori a first ATP trophy since 2019 with a 2-6, 6-1, 6-3 scoreboard on Sunday.

Muller, who saved two match points in the second round over the net from Miomir Kecmanovic, became just the third man in the Open Era to lift a title after losing the opening set in every match. Arthur Ashe (WCT Finals, 1975) and Alexander Bublik (Montpellier, 2024) are the only other comeback kings in this case.

"I'm just very happy right now. It's been a long and tough week for me," said Muller. "If I can take some record like this, losing all first sets and then taking the title, I'd be happy. I'm just so grateful to get my first title."

Nishikori, finally fully fit after injury-maligned campaigns in 2022-23, showed encouraging signs in Hong Kong with three defeats over former Top 10 opponents in the shape of Denis Shapovalov, Karen Khachanov and Cameron Norrie.

"If I keep playing like this from Hong Kong, I think there is more chance to win a couple matches in Australia. I think I'm still on the way, I can play good some moments, but I still get ups and downs," said Nishikori, who last competed at Melbourne Park in 2021.

"It's going to be a different physical fight in five sets. I need to keep working. I played the five matches here and I feel good, nothing is bothering me. Physically I feel good and I'm going to enjoy every moment in Melbourne."