Carlos Alcaraz pulls out of Madrid Open, Aleksandar Vukic and Rinky Hijikata continue losing runs
It was a rough day for the Australians and the local fans at the Madrid Open as Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz was forced to withdraw, while the green and gold contingent was slashed.
The Sydney duo of Aleksandar Vukic and Rinky Hijikata both crashed out at the celebrated Caja Magica clay-court venue in the capital, with Maya Joint's loss leaving Daria Kasatkina as the only Australian representative on the women's side.
News of home favourite Alcaraz's withdrawal from the tournament to protect a injury left the home fans deflated, with the second seed struggling with hamstring and groin injuries ahead of his French Open title defence next month.
Alcaraz sustained the injury and took a medical timeout during the final of
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Alcaraz had received a bye into the second round and was scheduled to play his first match against Canada's Gabriel Diallo on Friday before he pulled out.
The 21-year-old said he would try to play the next big tournament in the clay-court swing, the Rome Masters 1000 event from May 7-18, where world number one Jannik Sinner is expected to make a comeback from his doping ban.
It was a similarly tough day for Australian fans as three male players were left on the men's side and just one on the women's.
Kei Nishikori beat Vukic 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, marking the Japanese veteran's 450th victory at tour-level in his distinguished career, with the 35-year-old saying he hopes to reach 500 before retiring.
Vukic suffered his 10th straight defeat in what is turning out to be a wretched season for the 29-year-old world number 83, whose last eight matches have ended with him losing in a deciding set. He has not enjoyed a winning handshake since beating Bjorn Borg's son Leo in the Davis Cup back in Stockholm in January.
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Hijikata enjoyed victories over Lloyd Harris and Fabio Fognini in qualifying but is also enduring a tough run, falling 7-5, 7-5 in his opening-round clash to giant American Reilly Opelka for a fourth straight tour-level defeat in a month.
Australia's big guns will enter the men's main draw over the next couple of days, with sixth seed Alex de Minaur set to face Italian Lorenzo Sonego, and 25th seed Alexei Popyrin up against unpredictable Kazakh Alexander Bublik. Chris O'Connell rounds out the remaining Australians in the ATP draw, facing a daunting second-round encounter with third seed Taylor Fritz.
On the women's side, teenager
Kasatkina faces American Alycia Parks after receiving a bye into the second round.
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7NEWS
43 minutes ago
- 7NEWS
Emotional admission sends tears flowing after Coco Gauff beats Aryna Sabalenka to win French Open final
Coco Gauff has won her maiden French Open women's singles title after battling back from a set down to beat top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka in Paris. After a topsy-turvy opening set that Belarusian Sabalenka edged after a tiebreak, second seed Gauff responded with an immediate break and won the second set 6-2. And the 21-year-old American, who lost the 2022 French Open final as an 18-year-old, maintained her momentum to serve out for victory in the deciding set 6-7 (5-7) 6-2 6-4 for her second Grand Slam title and her first on clay. Gauff became the first American woman to capture the singles title in Paris since Serena Williams in 2015 and the youngest from the United States to achieve the feat since her decorated compatriot in 2002. It was the first world No.1 vs. No. 2 final at Roland Garros since 2013, when Serena defeated Maria Sharapova, and just the second in the last 30 years. Paris was guaranteed a new champion but the first clash between the top two women in the world rankings in a major final since the 2018 Australian Open initially failed to live up to its billing on a blustery Court Philippe Chatrier. After Sabalenka sent a backhand wide on Gauff's second match point, the young USA star fell onto her back, covering her face with both hands before resting her forehand on the clay. After greeting Sabalenka at the net, she then hugged film director Spike Lee and celebrated with her entourage, three years after she lost in her first final at Roland-Garros. Sabalenka started the deciding set strongly, sticking to her high-risk approach to hold her first service game. Gauff responded by raising her level, winning a superb rally in the third game that drew loud cheers and applause from the crowd. In her on-court speech, she admitted that defeat in 2022 had put her in a 'dark place' and then thanked the fans on Court-Philippe Chatrier, who were rooting mostly for her. After collecting the Suzanne Lenglen Cup, she admitted: 'I didn't think honestly that I could do it. 'I was going through a lot of things when I lost this final three years ago. I'm just happy to be here. 'I'd like to congratulate Aryna. You're a fighter. You're the number one player in the world. Today was a tough match, but you deserve all the results you've been having. Every time we play, it's such a tough match. 'The crowd helped me today. You guys were cheering for me so hard and I don't know what I do to deserve such support from the French crowd. I didn't think I could do it.' After an intense exchange of drop shots, Gauff hit a lob that Sabalenka chased down before attempting a shot between her legs — only for Gauff to intercept it at the net and finish with a winner. Gauff was consistent from the baseline and earned a break point which she converted when Sabalenka double-faulted, giving her a 2-1 lead. Sabalenka turned toward her box and shouted in frustration but then regained her composure, breaking back to level the match at 3-3. She was broken again at love, however, and Gauff then held serve twice to claim the title after a match that lasted two hours, 38 minutes. 'This will hurt so much, especially after such a tough two seeks playing great tennis in terrible conditions,' three-time Grand Slam champion Sabalenka said as she stifled her sobs. 'Thank you my team for the support, I'm sorry for this terrible final. 'As always I will come back stronger. 'To Coco: you deserve it, you're a hard worker, a fighter.'
The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Gauff recovers to stun Sabalenka in French Open final
Coco Gauff has won her maiden French Open women's singles title after battling back from a set down to beat top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka in Paris. After a topsy-turvy opening set that Belarusian Sabalenka edged after a tiebreak, second seed Gauff responded with an immediate break and won the second set 6-2. And the 21-year-old American, who lost the 2022 French Open final as an 18-year-old, maintained her momentum to serve out for victory in the deciding set 6-7 (7-5), 6-2, 6-4 for her second Grand Slam title and her first on clay. Gauff became the first American woman to capture the singles title in Paris since Serena Williams in 2015 and the youngest from the United States to achieve the feat since her decorated compatriot in 2002. It was the first world No.1 vs. No. 2 final at Roland Garros since 2013, when Serena defeated Maria Sharapova, and just the second in the last 30 years. Paris was guaranteed a new champion but the first clash between the top two women in the world rankings in a major final since the 2018 Australian Open initially failed to live up to its billing on a blustery Court Philippe Chatrier. After Sabalenka sent a backhand wide on Gauff's second match point, the young USA star fell onto her back, covering her face with both hands before resting her forehand on the clay. After greeting Sabalenka at the net, she then hugged film director Spike Lee and celebrated with her entourage, three years after she lost in her first final at Roland-Garros. Sabalenka started the deciding set strongly, sticking to her high-risk approach to hold her first service game. Gauff responded by raising her level, winning a superb rally in the third game that drew loud cheers and applause from the crowd. In her on-court speech, she admitted that defeat in 2022 had put her in a "dark place" and then thanked the fans on Court-Philippe Chatrier, who were rooting mostly for her. After collecting the Suzanne Lenglen Cup, she admitted: "I didn't think honestly that I could do it. "I was going through a lot of things when I lost this final three years ago. I'm just happy to be here. "I'd like to congratulate Aryna. You're a fighter. You're the number one player in the world. Today was a tough match, but you deserve all the results you've been having. Every time we play, it's such a tough match. "The crowd helped me today. You guys were cheering for me so hard and I don't know what I do to deserve such support from the French crowd. I didn't think I could do it." After an intense exchange of drop shots, Gauff hit a lob that Sabalenka chased down before attempting a shot between her legs — only for Gauff to intercept it at the net and finish with a winner. Gauff was consistent from the baseline and earned a break point which she converted when Sabalenka double-faulted, giving her a 2-1 lead. Sabalenka turned toward her box and shouted in frustration but then regained her composure, breaking back to level the match at 3-3. She was broken again at love, however, and Gauff then held serve twice to claim the title after a match that lasted two hours, 38 minutes. "This will hurt so much, especially after such a tough two seeks playing great tennis in terrible conditions," three-time Grand Slam champion Sabalenka said as she stifled her sobs. "Thank you my team for the support, I'm sorry for this terrible final. "As always I will come back stronger. "To Coco: you deserve it, you're a hard worker, a fighter." Coco Gauff has won her maiden French Open women's singles title after battling back from a set down to beat top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka in Paris. After a topsy-turvy opening set that Belarusian Sabalenka edged after a tiebreak, second seed Gauff responded with an immediate break and won the second set 6-2. And the 21-year-old American, who lost the 2022 French Open final as an 18-year-old, maintained her momentum to serve out for victory in the deciding set 6-7 (7-5), 6-2, 6-4 for her second Grand Slam title and her first on clay. Gauff became the first American woman to capture the singles title in Paris since Serena Williams in 2015 and the youngest from the United States to achieve the feat since her decorated compatriot in 2002. It was the first world No.1 vs. No. 2 final at Roland Garros since 2013, when Serena defeated Maria Sharapova, and just the second in the last 30 years. Paris was guaranteed a new champion but the first clash between the top two women in the world rankings in a major final since the 2018 Australian Open initially failed to live up to its billing on a blustery Court Philippe Chatrier. After Sabalenka sent a backhand wide on Gauff's second match point, the young USA star fell onto her back, covering her face with both hands before resting her forehand on the clay. After greeting Sabalenka at the net, she then hugged film director Spike Lee and celebrated with her entourage, three years after she lost in her first final at Roland-Garros. Sabalenka started the deciding set strongly, sticking to her high-risk approach to hold her first service game. Gauff responded by raising her level, winning a superb rally in the third game that drew loud cheers and applause from the crowd. In her on-court speech, she admitted that defeat in 2022 had put her in a "dark place" and then thanked the fans on Court-Philippe Chatrier, who were rooting mostly for her. After collecting the Suzanne Lenglen Cup, she admitted: "I didn't think honestly that I could do it. "I was going through a lot of things when I lost this final three years ago. I'm just happy to be here. "I'd like to congratulate Aryna. You're a fighter. You're the number one player in the world. Today was a tough match, but you deserve all the results you've been having. Every time we play, it's such a tough match. "The crowd helped me today. You guys were cheering for me so hard and I don't know what I do to deserve such support from the French crowd. I didn't think I could do it." After an intense exchange of drop shots, Gauff hit a lob that Sabalenka chased down before attempting a shot between her legs — only for Gauff to intercept it at the net and finish with a winner. Gauff was consistent from the baseline and earned a break point which she converted when Sabalenka double-faulted, giving her a 2-1 lead. Sabalenka turned toward her box and shouted in frustration but then regained her composure, breaking back to level the match at 3-3. She was broken again at love, however, and Gauff then held serve twice to claim the title after a match that lasted two hours, 38 minutes. "This will hurt so much, especially after such a tough two seeks playing great tennis in terrible conditions," three-time Grand Slam champion Sabalenka said as she stifled her sobs. "Thank you my team for the support, I'm sorry for this terrible final. "As always I will come back stronger. "To Coco: you deserve it, you're a hard worker, a fighter." Coco Gauff has won her maiden French Open women's singles title after battling back from a set down to beat top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka in Paris. After a topsy-turvy opening set that Belarusian Sabalenka edged after a tiebreak, second seed Gauff responded with an immediate break and won the second set 6-2. And the 21-year-old American, who lost the 2022 French Open final as an 18-year-old, maintained her momentum to serve out for victory in the deciding set 6-7 (7-5), 6-2, 6-4 for her second Grand Slam title and her first on clay. Gauff became the first American woman to capture the singles title in Paris since Serena Williams in 2015 and the youngest from the United States to achieve the feat since her decorated compatriot in 2002. It was the first world No.1 vs. No. 2 final at Roland Garros since 2013, when Serena defeated Maria Sharapova, and just the second in the last 30 years. Paris was guaranteed a new champion but the first clash between the top two women in the world rankings in a major final since the 2018 Australian Open initially failed to live up to its billing on a blustery Court Philippe Chatrier. After Sabalenka sent a backhand wide on Gauff's second match point, the young USA star fell onto her back, covering her face with both hands before resting her forehand on the clay. After greeting Sabalenka at the net, she then hugged film director Spike Lee and celebrated with her entourage, three years after she lost in her first final at Roland-Garros. Sabalenka started the deciding set strongly, sticking to her high-risk approach to hold her first service game. Gauff responded by raising her level, winning a superb rally in the third game that drew loud cheers and applause from the crowd. In her on-court speech, she admitted that defeat in 2022 had put her in a "dark place" and then thanked the fans on Court-Philippe Chatrier, who were rooting mostly for her. After collecting the Suzanne Lenglen Cup, she admitted: "I didn't think honestly that I could do it. "I was going through a lot of things when I lost this final three years ago. I'm just happy to be here. "I'd like to congratulate Aryna. You're a fighter. You're the number one player in the world. Today was a tough match, but you deserve all the results you've been having. Every time we play, it's such a tough match. "The crowd helped me today. You guys were cheering for me so hard and I don't know what I do to deserve such support from the French crowd. I didn't think I could do it." After an intense exchange of drop shots, Gauff hit a lob that Sabalenka chased down before attempting a shot between her legs — only for Gauff to intercept it at the net and finish with a winner. Gauff was consistent from the baseline and earned a break point which she converted when Sabalenka double-faulted, giving her a 2-1 lead. Sabalenka turned toward her box and shouted in frustration but then regained her composure, breaking back to level the match at 3-3. She was broken again at love, however, and Gauff then held serve twice to claim the title after a match that lasted two hours, 38 minutes. "This will hurt so much, especially after such a tough two seeks playing great tennis in terrible conditions," three-time Grand Slam champion Sabalenka said as she stifled her sobs. "Thank you my team for the support, I'm sorry for this terrible final. "As always I will come back stronger. "To Coco: you deserve it, you're a hard worker, a fighter." Coco Gauff has won her maiden French Open women's singles title after battling back from a set down to beat top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka in Paris. After a topsy-turvy opening set that Belarusian Sabalenka edged after a tiebreak, second seed Gauff responded with an immediate break and won the second set 6-2. And the 21-year-old American, who lost the 2022 French Open final as an 18-year-old, maintained her momentum to serve out for victory in the deciding set 6-7 (7-5), 6-2, 6-4 for her second Grand Slam title and her first on clay. Gauff became the first American woman to capture the singles title in Paris since Serena Williams in 2015 and the youngest from the United States to achieve the feat since her decorated compatriot in 2002. It was the first world No.1 vs. No. 2 final at Roland Garros since 2013, when Serena defeated Maria Sharapova, and just the second in the last 30 years. Paris was guaranteed a new champion but the first clash between the top two women in the world rankings in a major final since the 2018 Australian Open initially failed to live up to its billing on a blustery Court Philippe Chatrier. After Sabalenka sent a backhand wide on Gauff's second match point, the young USA star fell onto her back, covering her face with both hands before resting her forehand on the clay. After greeting Sabalenka at the net, she then hugged film director Spike Lee and celebrated with her entourage, three years after she lost in her first final at Roland-Garros. Sabalenka started the deciding set strongly, sticking to her high-risk approach to hold her first service game. Gauff responded by raising her level, winning a superb rally in the third game that drew loud cheers and applause from the crowd. In her on-court speech, she admitted that defeat in 2022 had put her in a "dark place" and then thanked the fans on Court-Philippe Chatrier, who were rooting mostly for her. After collecting the Suzanne Lenglen Cup, she admitted: "I didn't think honestly that I could do it. "I was going through a lot of things when I lost this final three years ago. I'm just happy to be here. "I'd like to congratulate Aryna. You're a fighter. You're the number one player in the world. Today was a tough match, but you deserve all the results you've been having. Every time we play, it's such a tough match. "The crowd helped me today. You guys were cheering for me so hard and I don't know what I do to deserve such support from the French crowd. I didn't think I could do it." After an intense exchange of drop shots, Gauff hit a lob that Sabalenka chased down before attempting a shot between her legs — only for Gauff to intercept it at the net and finish with a winner. Gauff was consistent from the baseline and earned a break point which she converted when Sabalenka double-faulted, giving her a 2-1 lead. Sabalenka turned toward her box and shouted in frustration but then regained her composure, breaking back to level the match at 3-3. She was broken again at love, however, and Gauff then held serve twice to claim the title after a match that lasted two hours, 38 minutes. "This will hurt so much, especially after such a tough two seeks playing great tennis in terrible conditions," three-time Grand Slam champion Sabalenka said as she stifled her sobs. "Thank you my team for the support, I'm sorry for this terrible final. "As always I will come back stronger. "To Coco: you deserve it, you're a hard worker, a fighter."
Sydney Morning Herald
3 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Dolphins dazzle in 50-point demolition of Dragons
Loading Key posts 9.50pm Farnworth adds last-minute try for dazzling Dolphins 9.32pm A try for the Dragons! 9.26pm That's 50 for the Dolphins 9.23pm Katoa, Isaako put Dolphins within reach of 50 9.11pm Hammer goes over as Dolphins reach 40 9.07pm Dolphins pile on more pain with Lemuelu bagging a double 8.46pm Bostock scores a screamer to cap dream first half for Dolphins 8.37pm Cook to the centres as Lemuelu scores a stunner Hide key posts Latest posts Latest posts 10.12pm on Jun 6, 2025 Dolphins destroy Dragons in record-breaking win By AAP The Dolphins have rocketed into the top eight for the first time this year with a 56-6 demolition of St George Illawarra on what is officially known as Queensland Day. That could easily be rebranded Dolphins Day on the back of another scintillating display by halfback Isaiya Katoa. The Dolphins started the season 0-4 but head coach Kristian Woolf kept true to his systems and did not panic. The so-called 'Wayne Bennett curse' has been spooked into oblivion. The only downside for the Dolphins, now in seventh on the ladder, was a knee injury to forward Max Plath on his return from a foot issue. The opening 40 minutes on Friday night was a pure rugby league clinic as the home side rocketed to a 28-2 half-time lead at Suncorp Stadium. The second half was just as good. The forwards and backs were punishing in defence, halves Kodi Nikorima and Katoa combined in a masterclass and to a man the Dolphins played scintillating attacking rugby league. The diabolical Dragons simply had no answer. The Dolphins had their previous biggest winning margin over St George Illawarra in a 38-0 victory last year but this record breaker was another level, surpassing the 44 points they had notched on two previous occasions. When second-rower Connelly Lemuelu stormed over for his second try four minutes after the break, Nikorima and Katoa had two try assists each. Fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow then put the nail in the Dragons' coffin for a runaway try in combination with centre Jake Averillo, who was brilliant with three try assists. Katoa landed a 40-20 and then laid on a try for winger Jamayne Isaako's second try. Dolphins hitman Felise Kaufusi set the scene early with a back slam on centre Valentine Holmes to dislodge the ball. From that moment the Dolphins dominated. The depth of the Dolphins' attacking line was a sight to behold and it was star centre Herbie Farnworth who crossed for his 50th career try in the 11th minute after a sweeping right to left play. Winger Jamayne Isaako added a second in the right corner after a mirror image play for a 10-2 lead. Katoa was pivotal in both by going deep into the line to create space. He then beat three men and Nikorima raced away to score. A towering bomb by Katoa was expertly snaffled by Lemuelu for a 22-2 lead. Dolphins winger Jack Bostock haunted opposite number Nathan Lawson, the former Australian rugby sevens Olympian. Bostock smashed Lawson in one huge hit and then leapt above him to score after a Nikorima bomb. The Dragons lost winger Christian Tuipulotu to a hamstring injury in the first half on his return from the same complaint while forward Raymond Faitala-Mariner left the field in the second half with shortness of breath. 9.55pm on Jun 6, 2025 Stats snapshot of a Dolphins demolition 9.52pm on Jun 6, 2025 Watch: Dolphins bring up their 50 9.50pm on Jun 6, 2025 Farnworth adds last-minute try for dazzling Dolphins The Dolphins finish this one off in style, back-rowers Oryn Keeley and Connelly Lemuelu combining before sending Herbie Farnworth clear to score his second try of the night and the final one of the game. He touches down with seven seconds left on the clock, and Jamayne Isaako lobs over the conversion. That's a combined 100 points from the Dolphins' past two games, after their 44-6 drubbing of the Bulldogs. Are they a dark horse in this year's premiership race? Full-time: Dolphins win 56-6 9.32pm on Jun 6, 2025 A try for the Dragons! It's the dictionary definition of 'consolation try' but the Dragons have a four-pointer at last, with a left-side shift ending with a diving Valentine Holmes touching down in the corner. It's only a four-pointer with Holmes' conversion attempt drifting wide. 9.26pm on Jun 6, 2025 That's 50 for the Dolphins This is a training run for the Dolphins. The running game of the two halves continues to wreak havoc on the Dragons defence, with Isaiya Katoa and Kodi Nikorima linking up and drawing several defenders before a long Nikorima pass unleashes Jack Bostock down the left flank. Bostock sends it inside for Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and the Dolphins have 50 points tonight. There's already been a lot of bad news for Dragons fans tonight and here's more: there is still 20 minutes left. 9.23pm on Jun 6, 2025 Katoa, Isaako put Dolphins within reach of 50 No mistakes from Katoa this time. This time the Dolphins halfback drives a low kick from just outside his 30-metre line and it's a perfectly placed 40-20. His team now gets a shot at the Dragons line and you get the feeling they'll make the most of it. And they do. It's only takes a few tackles for the Dolphins to create an overlap on the right, Val Homes forced to come inside to stop Jake Averillo who finds an unmarked Jamayne Isaako out wide. Isaako misses the conversion but it hardly matters at this point. Dolphins lead 44-2 with 22 minutes left 9.18pm on Jun 6, 2025 Rare attacking raid for Dragons Finally – a mistake by Isaiya Katoa. The red hot Dolphins halfback puts up a bomb a little too close to the sideline, and canny Dragons centre-turned-winger Val Holmes plants his foot on the sideline before catching it. That's out on the full, and the visitors get to start their set in Dolphins territory. They finally look good in attack, stretching the Dolphins' defence on the right edge and then testing them out on the left, before a last-tackle bomb is put down by the Dolphins' Jack Bostock. Another full set inside the 20 now for the Dragons, from a scrum. But it only lasts a couple of tackles before Hamish Stewart puts down a short ball from Jack de Belin. 9.11pm on Jun 6, 2025 Hammer goes over as Dolphins reach 40 This is getting ugly for the Dragons. Jake Averillo conjures something out of nothing for the Dolphins, taking the ball form a standing start, drifting wide and then bursting clear from inside his own 40 metres. He looks inside and finds a supporting Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, and nobody's catching him. This is going to be a real statement win for the Dolphins, while St George Illawarra will do well to avoid conceding the dreaded 50 points. 9.07pm on Jun 6, 2025 Dolphins pile on more pain with Lemuelu bagging a double ...It's panning out badly for the Dragons. The Dolphins have picked up where they left off, getting a set in attacking territory after an error from rookie Dragons winger Nathan Lawson. The hosts send it through the hands down the left, with a flurry of short passes – quality offloads from Mark Nicholls and Isaiya Katoa – putting Connelly Lemuelu over for his second try of the night. Jamayne Isaako kicks his fifth conversion of the evening and this scoreline could be anything.
