Mumbai, 21^st January 2024: Chasing a record 25^th Grand Slam, Novak Djokovic reached the quarter-finals of Australian Open 2024 as he swept past Adrian Mannarino in straight sets on Sunday, 21^st January. Following the magnificent win, Djokovic took to Sony Sports Network’s studio show Extraaa Serve and spoke in length with expert panellist Somdev Devvarman.

The former India No. 1 tennis professional questioned Djokovic, who has been a successful part of world tennis in the last two decades, on how has the sport changed over the years and what is required to be a successful player at the top level in the current scenario. “The physicality is a big part of it. Players today are very fit,” began Djokovic.

“I don’t think at the top level if there is any player who lacks flexibility, explosiveness, strength etc. Everyone travels with big team comprised by a physiologist, psychologist, nutritionist, analytics and other coaches. That is the biggest difference I have noticed in these 20 years. The level of professionalism has grown a lot,” he explained.

He went on to shed light on how the players and their coaching staff are more focused on monitoring the fitness levels, dietary plans, medical check-ups etc. in order to ensure they are prepared for every challenge on court. Djokovic also elucidated on how players still do suffer from injuries and attributed it to the higher intensity of the game, the increased number of matches and tournaments, change in formats and also the other exhibition events which they play in the off season.

He went on to advise the young players on maintaining an appropriate schedule saying, “It is important to be smart about your calendar. Even though you are a young player and you want to travel here and there for different tournaments or exhibition matches because they are paying you big money, you just need to see the bigger picture. I was fortunate during my time, to be surrounded by people who advised me well on how to manage my calendar. So, I wasn’t chasing things around and playing every week. It has benefited me in a lot of ways and helped me have a long career.”

Furthermore, the 36-year-old also spoke in detail about his routine and the things he does off the court that help him on court. “My style is more intense, rigorous, structured days of commitment, training, recovery and that of preparation of mental, physical, emotional, spiritual to get myself at the right level, perform at my best level and be the best in the world. It’s important to strike the right balance between being active and then resting,” stated the World No. 1.

Before concluding, Djokovic revealed the activities he prefers to do in the ‘second part of the day’ where he doesn’t have any commitments and obligations. “Normally, in the second part of the day when I don’t have the obligations or other commitments, I love to research on things that inspire me. I love history and everything about nature, human body and experience; how to live a profound and fulfilling life in every aspect. I also like to listen to podcasts and TED Talks. I like to learn new things because at the end of the day, you want to be the best version of yourself.”

The Serbian legend will take on Taylor Fritz in the Australian Open 2024 quarter-final clash on Wednesday, 24^th January.

Bengaluru, Jan 20:  India’s last hope Rutuja Bhosale went down tamely to sixth seed Carole Monnet in the semifinals of the KPB Trust ITF Women’s Open. The 27-year-old lost 2-6, 0-6 to the Frenchwoman in just 63 minutes at the KSLTA Stadium here on Saturday.

Carole will meet the top seed Darja Semenistaja in the title clash to be played on Sunday. The Latvian overcame the challenge of qualifier Naho Sato of Japan 6-4, 6-1 in the other semifinal.

Darja thus placed herself for in line for a golden double after the 21-year-old combined with Italian Camilla Rosatello to overcome the challenge of Yu-Yun Li of Taipei and Eri Shimizu of Japan 3-6, 6-2, 10-8 to wear the women’s doubles crown.

Carole held the upper hand from the word ‘go’ as she broke Rutuja’s serve in the second game to go 2-0 up. The Indian managed to break her rival’s serve in the third game post which both the opponents broke each other’s serve. However, the inconsistent Rutuja lost her serves in the 6^th and 8^th game to hand over the set to the visitor.

In the second set, the 22-year-old Carole did not give a semblance of a chance to an error-prone Rutuja as she blanked the Asian Games gold medallist with breaks in the 2^nd, 4^th and 6^th games to enter the title round.

In the other semifinal, the top seed Darja raced to a 4-0 lead against Naho Sato with breaks in the first and third games. The unseeded Japanese showed signs of recovery as she broke her opponent’s serve in the fifth game and led a superb fightback after being 1-5 down by winning three games on a trot, earning breaks in the 7^th and 9^th games. However, she was unable to hold her serve in the next game, which cost her the set.

The winner of 14 ITF titles, Darja played some powerful shots and dominated almost the entire 31 minutes of the second set where she took a 5-0 lead with two breaks in the 2^nd and 4^th games. The best the petite Japanese could do was to hold her serve in the 6^th game before the south paw closed out the set and match.   

Results (Bracket indicates country, pre-fix indicates seeding)

Singles Semifinals

1-Darja Semenistaja (LAT) bt Q-Naho Sato (JPN) 6-4, 6-1; 6-Carole Monnet (FRA) bt WC-Rutuja Bhosale (IND) 6-2, 6-0;

Doubles Finals

1-Camilla Rosatello (ITA)/Darja Semenistaja (LAT) bt Yu-Yun Li (TPE)/Eri Shimizu (JPN) 3-6, 6-2, 10-8.

Mumbai, 20th January 2024: Still going strong at 43, Rohan Bopanna made India proud after marking his 500th career win in professional tennis at Australian Open 2024. “It’s a truly special feeling that I got myself to 500 wins. There have been a lot of sacrifices in this journey and lot of people were with my during this time,” he expressed to Sony Sports Network’s expert panellist on the studio show Extraaa Serve, Somdev Devvarman.

Bopanna, along with men’s doubles partner Matthew Ebden, went on to bag his 501st win in the second round of the tournament as the pair downed Aussie pair John Millman and Edward Winter in straight sets. With 21 career titles, Rohan Bopanna is one of India’s most decorated tennis professionals. He has been quite the journeyman in tennis and has adapted his style of play a lot over the years. 

While shedding light on how he still manages to come through, Bopanna explained, “It was very difficult to not be able to serve & volley which I was always taught to do and was my style. I had to manage it and find new ways of playing that worked while playing at the highest level. Back in 2020 during the pandemic, I started doing the Iyengar yoga and that significantly made a positive impact on my health. I could do 90-minute sessions for four times a week.”

“I think mentally also I became much stronger,” he continued. “I was clearer in the way I was thinking while playing tennis. That made a great difference it resulted in a great last year for me as I enjoyed myself being on the court.”

Bopanna also spoke about the challenging conditions at Australian Open and having to push his boundaries to get them wins. “It’s really tricky, the conditions in Melbourne. When it is windy, tennis is really different. You can’t go after your serve, you have to play the percentage game. That is really not my style and I had to work really hard with my legs. But thankfully, we got through,” he concluded.

Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden will next take on Wesley Koolhof and Nikola Mektic in their men’s doubles third round match on Sunday, 21st January 2024, only on Sony Sports Network.

Mumbai, 20th January 2024: Reigning Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic, who began his journey in the 2024 edition of the tournament in style, addressed the young kids in India aspiring to take up tennis as a profession, following his straight sets win over Argentinian Tomas Martin Etcheverry.

“I wish to be part of some programs designed particularly for the development of kids in their early childhood because that is something, I’m very passionate about. That is also the cornerstone of our foundation. I would like to see more children grabbing a racquet and playing tennis. Being a tennis player, seeing that happen will fill my heart with joy,” he quoted.

During an earlier interview with Sony Sports Network expert panellist Somdev Devvarman, Djokovic spoke about his admiration for Indian cricketer Virat Kohli. Speaking with Sania Mirza on Friday, the 36-year-old went on to express his love for India, saying, “I feel I have a special connection with India. I love the people there; they have been very kind to me and are one of the most genuine and gentle people in the world. They love their sports with cricket being the most followed obviously. But tennis, as I understand, is followed great across the country too.”

He went on to reminisce about an exhibition match that he participated in 2014 in New Delhi along with Roger Federer and several other tennis legends and also opened up on his dream of exploring the country soon.

“Hopefully, there are many years ahead of me so that I can spend more time in your beautiful country and we can work on the mission of empowering more kids to take up tennis,” he concluded.

Next up, Djokovic will face France’s Adrian Mannarino in the fourth round of Australian Open 2024 on Sunday, 21st January 2024.

Bengaluru, Jan 19:  Rutuja Bhosale stormed into the semifinals of the KPB Trust ITF Women’s Open but not before going through some dramatic twists and turns in her ousting of fourth seed Moyuka Uchijima of Japan 6-2, 5-7, 7-6 (5) in a quarterfinal match that lasted two minutes short of three hours. The 27-year-old Indian, playing on a wildcard ticket, will clash with sixth seed Carole Monnet of France who cruised into the semifinals with a 6-4, 6-1 win over compatriot and second seed Chloe Paquet.  

The top seed of the US $ 40,000 event Darja Semenistaja of Latvia was stretched by fifth seed Polina Kudermetova before she triumphed 6-3, 6-7 (5), 5-1 after the latter retired in the dying moments of the match owing to back ache. In the other semifinals, Darja will meet qualifier Naho Sato of Japan who went past her countrymate Mei Yamaguchi in straight sets 6-4, 7-5.

The China Asian Games Gold medallist Rutuja was clinical in her approach, especially with her forehand as she produced some stunning cross court winners and went 4-0 up with two breaks in the 2^nd and 4^th game. She was able to sustain the pressure on Moyuka as the Japanese made several unforced errors before resurrecting her game. However it was too late in the set as Rutuja took the first set 6-2.

The second set saw Rutuja slacken a bit and was down a break and trailed 0-2. Egged on by a partisan weekend crowd, she bounced back and went 5-2 up and before her rival could hold her serve. Serving for the match at 5-3 and up by two match points, Rutuja faltered with a couple of unforced errors which changed the momentum in favour of Moyuka who did not waste time in taking advantage of the situation and won the next four games to take the match into the deciding set.

Down 2-5 in the final set, Rutuja made a stunning comeback with renewed force and hitting some excellent down the line winners and levelled at 5. She then went on to save three match points at 5-6 after six ‘deuces’ and finally overcame the Japanese 7-5 in the tie-breaker.

Results (Bracket indicates country, pre-fix indicates seeding)

Singles Quarterfinals

Q-Naho Sato (JPN) bt Q-Mei Yamaguchi (JPN) 6-4, 7-5; 1-Darja Semenistaja (LAT) bt 5-Polina Kudermetova 6-3, 6-7 (5), 5-1 (retd); WC-Rutuja Bhosale (IND) bt 4-Moyuka Uchijima (JPN) 6-2, 5-7, 7-6 (5); 6-Carole Monnet (FRA) bt 2-Chloe Paquet (FRA) 6-4, 6-1;  

Doubles Semifinals

Yu-Yun Li (TPE)/Eri Shimizu (JPN) bt Amandine Hesse (FRA)/Dalila Jakupovic (SLO) 2-6, 6-3, 10-4;

1-Camilla Rosatello (ITA)/Darja Semenistaja (LAT) Vs. Saki Imamura/Naho Sato (both JPN) 6-1; 2-4 (on-going).

Bengaluru, Jan 18: Asian Games Gold medallist Rutuja Bhosale became the lone woman amongst five Indians in the main draw to qualify for the women’s singles quarterfinals of the KPB Trust ITF Women’s Open at the KSLTA Stadium here on Thursday. The 27-year-old did not have to break much sweat as her highest ranked Indian opponent Ankita Raina, seeded 8^th, threw in the towel after being indisposed, three games into the pre-quarterfinal match where she was trailing 1-2.

The other Indian in fray – Vaidehi Chaudhary also exited as she could not sustain her form after winning the first set against sixth seed Carole Monnet of France and went down 7-6 (5), 4-6, 4-6. The Indian challenge in the doubles too fizzled out as the duo of Sharmada Balu and Sravya Shivani Chilakalapudi and the pair of Shrivalli Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty and Vaidehi Chaudhari lost their respective quarterfinal matches. The second seeded pair of Prarthana G Thombare and Anastasia Tikhonova suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Amandine Hesse of France and Slovian Dalila Jakupovic in another last-four tie.

Meanwhile, top seed Darja Semenistaja of Latvia had to really dig deep to overcome her German opponent and qualifier Lena Papadakis 7-6 (5), 3-6, 6-4 to make it to the last eight stage. Darja who has three W60 and one W40 titles in the last season, after losing her serve in the very first game, came back strongly to win the next four games with breaks in the 2^nd and the 4^th game. The 21 year old who is currently ranked 142^nd in the world, was serving for the set at 5-3 but lost her serve as the 25-year-old German then took the set into tie-break which the younger of the opponent won at 5.  Lena launched into a different mode in the second set, where she served with aplomb and dished out four aces out of a total of eight in the entire match. After both the opponents had traded a break each by the sixth game, Lena achieved a crucial break in the eighth game and held her serve in the next to take the match into the deciding set.

Darja after losing her serve in the first game of the third set, went on to win the next three games to gain the momentum and led 5-2 with another break in the sixth game. Lena fought back winning the next two games while saving two match points in the 9^th game before the Latvian broke her serve to win the set and the match.

Results (Bracket indicates country, pre-fix indicates seeding)

Singles Round of 16

4-Moyuka Uchijima (JPN) bt Dalila Jakupovic (SLO) 6-3, 6-3; Tatiana Prozorova Vs. Q-Mei Yamaguchi (JPN) 6-0, 6-2; WC-Rutuja Bhosale (IND) bt 8-Ankita Raina 2-1 (retd); 1-Darja Semenistaja (LAT) bt Q-Lena Papadakis (GER) 7-6 (5), 3-6, 6-4; 2-Chloe Paquet (FRA) bt Sakura Hosogi (JPN) 6-4, 6-0; Q-Naho Sato (JPN) bt Jana Kolodynska 7-5, 6-2; 5-Polina Kudermetova bt Tina Nadine Smith (AUS) 6-3, 1-6, 6-4; 6-Carole Monnet (FRA) bt Vaidehi Chaudhari (IND) 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-4.

Doubles Quarterfinals

Saki Imamura/Naho Sato (both JPN) bt WC-Sharmada Balu/Sravya Shivani Chilakalapudi (both IND) 6-0, 6-1; 1-Camilla Rosatello (ITA)/Darja Semenistaja (LAT) bt Polina Kudermetova/Ekaterina Yashina 6-4, 6-4; Yu-Yun Li (TPE)/Eri Shimizu (JPN) bt Shrivalli Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty/Vaidehi Chaudhari (both IND) 6-1, 6-4; Amandine Hesse (FRA)/Dalila Jakupovic (SLO) bt 2-Prarthana G Thombare (IND)/Anastasia Tikhonova 6-2, 2-6, 10-7.

Mumbai, January 18, 2024: The fairytale journey in Australian Open of Indian sensation Sumit Nagal culminated as Shang Juncheng edged him in their nail-biting Round 2 match. Despite Nagal clinching the first set, 18-year-old Shang came back strong to win the next three games and impose defeat on Nagal. Speaking with Somdev Devvarman for a post-match interview with Sony Sports Network, the official broadcaster for the tournament in India, Sumit Nagal explained his analysis of the game and his focus on breaking into the top 100 ATP rankings and a message for his well-wishers.  Speaking about the loss, Nagal said, “If I go back and look at the game, I don’t think I did too many bad things. Perhaps 2-3 mistakes in three hours. I started the game really well, but I felt a little drop in the weather went against me. He started swinging, and from there, I was trying to figure out how to get the balls away from his hitting zone. I did not do a good job.”  Later, the 26-year-old went on to explain his strategy to break into the ATP Top 100 rankings. “I’m probably not going to think too much about it. I’m just going to focus on tennis, going match by match, and try to ignore the ranking part and do well in the upcoming tournaments. If I’m doing well in the tournament, the ranking will go up automatically,” he stated. Nagal received a lot of praise and recognition for his heroics in the first round of the Australian Open against World No. 27 Alexander Bublik and becoming the first Indian male player since Ramesh Krishnan in 1989 to beat a seeded player at a Grand Slam. He concluded with a message for his supporters, stating, “I would like to thank my family, my friends, sponsors, and all the people who are supporting me in India. The number of people who came out to the court today to cheer for me and the people who supported me from India and across the world, thank you very much. I hope I will keep the flag high and see you guys around.”   In another game, Indian tennis maestro Rohan Bopanna advanced to the 2nd round of the men’s doubles category alongside partner Matthew Ebden after battling hard in the first round against the Australian pair James Duckworth and Marc Polmans in a 7-6 (5), 4-6, 7-6 (10-2) win.

Can Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden overcome the threat posed by the Aussie pair of John Millman and Edward Winter? Find out LIVE on Friday, January 19th, only on Sony Sports Network. Sony Sports Network will bring all the LIVE action from the tournament in English and Hindi, while Tamil and Telugu language feeds will be added from the quarter-finals stage onwards

Ankita survives a scare, 3 Indians enter pre-quarterfinals of KPB Trust ITF Women’s Open

Bengaluru, Jan 17: India’s leading star Ankita Raina rallied brilliantly to come back from the brink of defeat after being down by a set and trailing 1-5 in the second set to come up trumps against Viktoria Morvayova in a first round encounter of the KPB Trust ITF Women’s Open being played at the KSLTA Stadium here on Wednesday. The eighth seed, fighting a sore throat and stomach cramps overcame her Slovakian rival 1-6, 7-5, 6-1 to move into the pre-quarterfinals.

On a good day for the Indians, Rutuja Bhosale and Vaidehi Chaudhary also entered the last 16 stage. While Rutuja fought back after losing the first set 0-6 against Eri Shimizu of Japan before winning the next two sets 7-5, 7-5, Vaidehi brushed aside the challenge of Sapfo Sakellaridi of Greece 6-4, 6-2.

In an extremely competitive field, third seed Ekaterina Makarova became the first casualty of the tournament after suffering a straight set defeat from qualifier Naho Sato of Japan 5-7, 2-6. Qualifier Mei Yamaguchi of Japan later sent seventh seed Sofya Lansere home with a 6-2, 6-2 victory. In the longest match of the day that lasted for 3 hours and 31 minutes, sixth seed Carole Monnet of France overcame Serbian Dejana Radanovic 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9).

Ankita, who is just back from being eliminated in the second round of the qualifiers at the Australian Open, was quite rusty in the first set, occasionally shooting down a winner. After struggling to hold her serve in the first game, the 31-year-old ace Indian, suffered due to some poor shot selection. Morvayova, who is ranked more than 200 ranks below Ankita, was swift on the court and grabbed the opportunity to register a clean sweep winning five games on the trot to take the first set.

In the second set, Ankita broke her opponent’s serve in the first game and was promptly broken back. However, the 22-year-old raced to a 5-1 lead after breaks in the 4^th and 6^th game and was serving for the match before Ankita staged a comeback by not only breaking her serve but going on to win the next five games, with breaks in the 9^th and 11^th games to make it 1-1.

Continuing in the same vein in the final set, Ankita won the first four games courtesy breaks in the 1^st and 3^rd games. Morvayova lost her temper midway through the set after she deemed a ball to be out but in reality, the ball was in. The only game she could win was the 7^th where she was able to hold her serve as the Indian wrapped up the set and the match which lasted for 2 hours and 14 minutes.

In another duel, before Rutuja could take a measure of her opponent, the first set was over 0-6, thanks to her erratic serves. The Indian went 3-1 up with a break in the 3^rd game. The 25-year-old Japanese won the next three games with a break in the 6^th game. The Asian Games gold medallist achieved the crucial break in the 11^th game before serving out for the set.

In the deciding set, the 27-year-old Indian held an advantage after an early break in the first game to go 4-2 up. However, Shimizu fought back and with a break in the 8^th game, went 5-4 up. Rutuja then won three consecutive game to take the set and the match.

Results

Singles Round of 32

Lena Papadakis (GER) bt Amandine Hesse (FRA) 6-2, 6-3; 5-Polina Kudermetova bt Gergana Topalova (BUL) 6-2, 6-3; 4-Moyuka Uchijima (JPN) bt En Shuo Liang (TPE) 5-7, 7-6 (4), 6-1; Q-Mei Yamaguchi (JPN) bt 7-Sofya Lansere 6-2, 6-2; Tatiana Prozorova bt Anastasia Kulikova (FIN) 6-2, 6-3; 8-Ankita Raina (IND) bt Viktoria Morvayova (SVK) 1-6, 7-5, 6-1; 1-Darja Semenistaja (LAT) bt WC-Soha Sadiq (IND) 6-2, 6-1; Rutuja Bhosale (IND) bt Eri Shimizu (JPN) 0-6, 7-5, 7-5; 2-Chloe Paquet (FRA) bt WC-Suhitha Maruri (IND) 6-2, 6-1; Q-Naho Sato (JPN) bt 3-Ekaterina Makarova 7-5, 6-2; Tina Nadine Smith (AUS) bt Lanlana Tararudee (THA) 6-3, 6-2; Jana Kolodynska bt Anna Siskova (CZE) 6-4, 6-2; 6-Carole Monnet (FRA) bt Dejana Radanovic (SRB) 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9); Vaidehi Chaudhari (IND) bt Sapfo Sakellaridi (GRE) 6-4, 6-2.

Mumbai, January 17, 2024: An exciting series of results continues at the ongoing Australian Open 2024, as in a fairytale result, the 2023 WTA Newcomer of the Year, Mirra Andreeva, showcased pure class to beat 3-time Grand Slam Finalist Ons Jabeur in Round 2 of the Australian Open. The 16-year-old Russian International displayed top-level athleticism to edge past the sixth-seeded Ons Jabeur, becoming the first player aged 17 or younger to defeat a Top 10 player at the Australian Open since Coco Gauff defeated then-defending champion Naomi Osaka in the third round of the 2019 tournament. Speaking about her pre-match nerves, Andreeva said, “I was really nervous before the match because I have always been inspired by Ons Jabeur, by the way she plays.” She further added, “In the first set, I showed amazing tennis. I honestly didn’t expect that from myself. I just wanted to go and play on this big court for the second time, just to enjoy tennis, just to enjoy the time, and I did.” Reflecting on her growth from the previous year, she added, “Last year I was 15, but now I think I am a bit more mature than I was before. Over this year, I think I have changed a lot, and I think you can see it on the court.”

Mirra Andreeva is through to the third round of a Grand Slam tournament for the third time in her career. Can the young prodigy Mirra Andreeva keep the momentum and win the 3rd Round? Watch Mirra Andreeva take on Frenchwoman Diane Parry in the 3rd round of the Australian Open on Friday, January 19th, live only on Sony Sports Network. Sony Sports Network will bring all the LIVE action from the tournament in English and Hindi, while Tamil and Telugu language feeds will be added from the Quarterfinals stage onwards

World-leading fitness brand Technogym has been announced as the Official Technical Fitness Equipment Supplier of the Australian Open in 2024.

“We are very excited to partner with Technogym which is recognised globally for its commitment to innovation in fitness equipment and technology,” Tennis Australia Chief Commercial Officer Cedric Cornelis said.

“Technogym prides itself on being dedicated to optimising athletic performance and supports many of the world’s biggest sport events, making it a fantastic partner for the Australian Open. We’re confident that Technogym’s equipment will support players in their training and help them prepare to their full potential.”

Technogym has delivered and installed three player gyms on-site at Australian Open 2024 including the AO Match Gym at Rod Laver Arena, the AO Base Gym in MCA and the gym at the National Tennis Centre (NTC). The equipment at the NTC Gym will be available for year-round use and includes Technogym’s latest product, the BIO REV leg press, which is the first of its kind to be used in the APAC region.

Technogym supplies fitness equipment to major sporting events including the Olympic Games and is an official sponsor of major events including the Grand Prix and Giro d’Italia.

Mumbai, January 16, 2024: Earlier today, Sumit Nagal roared in glory when the Indian tennis sensation won the first round of the Australian Open and became the first Indian male player since Ramesh Krishnan in 1989 to beat a seeded player at a Grand Slam. After achieving this historic feat, he sat down for a post-match interview with Sony Sports Network, the official broadcaster for the tournament in India, explaining his injury struggles, game strategy, and preparations for the upcoming game. 

Discussing his struggles with injury in the past few months and how that helped him, Sumit explained, “The last 12-18 months had been both good and bad. Bad due to my injury, and good because I learned a lot during my break. When I returned to the court after the injury, it made me a better and more mature player. I felt and understood tennis much better, and I think that is paying off on the courts.” 

Later, Sumit went on to explain his mindset when he saw Alexander Bublik talking a lot to himself and his box between 1st and 2nd serves, “When I saw him doing that, I knew I have to be there and just have to give him another ball. Serve a lot of first serves, and not give him chances too many times, and I think that worked well for me. Make him move a lot, and get him more and more annoyed.” 

After defeating the World Ranked No 27 player in straight sets and achieving the unthinkable, Sumit concluded with his preparation strategy for the upcoming game, saying, “The plan for tomorrow is to take it easy, do ice bath, get some massage, get some extra hours in sleep. That’s a very typical day-off routine for me.” 

Can Sumit Nagal create history and enter the 3rd round? Watch Sumit Nagal against J.C. Shang in the 2nd round of the Australian Open on January 18th, live only on Sony Sports Network. Sony Sports Network will bring all the LIVE action from the tournament in English and Hindi, while Tamil and Telugu language feeds will be added from the Quarterfinals stage onwards. 

Bengaluru, Jan 16: Shrivalli Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty made amends to her loss in the qualifying round as she combined with Vaidehi Chaudhari to enter the quarterfinals of the women’s doubles of the KPB Trust ITF Women’s Open being played at the KSLTA Stadium. In a pre-quarterfinal tie, the all-Indian pair defeated the Indo-Taipei combination of Rutuja Bhosale and En Shuo Liang 7-5, 6-0.

In the other last 16 matches held here on Tuesday, Sharmada Balu and Sravya Shivani Chilakalapudi overcame the duo of Sai Samhitha Chamarthi and Soha Sadiq 7-6 (4), 6-4.

The other Indian to advance to the quarterfinal stage was the fast-recovering Prarthana G Thombare who combined with Anastasia Tikhonova to beat the wild card entrant duo of Humera Baharmus and Saumya Vig 6-4, 6-3.

The US $ 40,000 prize money event was inaugurated by Ms. Hilary McGeachy, the Consul General of Australia in Bengaluru along with Hephsibha Rani Korlapati, Additional Secretary, Govt. of Karnataka and

In the only two singles matches held during the day, Sakura Hosogi of Japan overcame a fighting Camilla Rosatello of Italy 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-3 while Dalila Jakupovic of Slovakia breezed past Sahaja Yamalapalli 6-2, 6-3.

Results

Singles (Round of 32)

Sakura Hosogi (JPN) bt Camilla Rosatello (ITA) 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-3; Dalila Jakupovic (SLO) bt Sahaja Yamalapalli (IND) 6-2, 6-3.

Doubles (Round of 16)

2-Prarthana G Thombare (IND)/Anastasia Tikhonova bt WC-Humera Baharmus (IND)/Saumya Vig (IND) 6-4, 6-3; Saki Imamura (JPN)/Naho Sato (JPN) bt 3-Sofya Lansere/Ankita Raina (IND) 6-3, 6-1; Polina Kudermetova/Ekaterina Yashina bt Ekaterina Makarova/Carole Monnet (FRA) 4-6, 6-4, 10-8;Yu-Yun Li (TPE)/Eri Shimizu (JPN) bt 4-Diana Marcinkevica (LAT)/Sapfo Sakellaridi (GRE);Sharmada Balu (IND)/Sravya Shivani Chilakalapudi (IND) bt Sai Samhitha Chamarthi (IND)/Soha Sadiq (IND) 7-6 (4), 6-4; Shrivalli Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty (IND)/Vaidehi Chaudhari (IND) bt Rutuja Bhosale (IND)/En Shuo Liang (TPE) 7-5, 6-0.

Bengaluru, Jan 15: Vaidehi Chaudhari was the lone Indian to qualify for the main draw in the KPB Trust ITF Women’s Open that begins at the KSLTA Stadium here on Tuesday. The 23-year-old scored an upset win over 5^th seed Thasaporn Naklo of Thailand in straight sets 6-2, 6-2 in just 56 minutes in the final qualifying round, after which, eight of them earned a spot in the main draw. In the other upset of the day, 12^th seed Mei Yamaguchi of Japan ousted the top seed Diana Marcinkevica of Latvia 1-6, 6-2, 6-2.

Meanwhile Ankita Raina is seeded No.8 for the singles main draw of 32 that includes five Indians in all along with four wildcards – Soha Sadiq, Rutuja Bhosale, Sahaja Yamlapalli, and Suhita Maruri. Latvian Darja Semenistaja has been given the top billing while Chloe Paquet of France is seeded second. Ekaterina Makarova and Moyuka Uchijima of Japan have been seeded third and fourth respectively while Polina Kudermetova is seeded fifth. Frenchwoman Carole Monnet is seeded No.6 while Sofya Lansere is No.7.

After the other two Indians – Shrivalli Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty and Zeel Desai bowed out of the qualifying race, Vaidehi brought some good news to the Indian camp. Playing some of her best tennis this year, the 23-year-old was in full flow against her Thai opponent. Both the players began by breaking each other’s serve but from there the Indian took control of the game as she broke her rival’s serve in the 3^rd and the 5^th game to go 4-1 ahead. However, she got broken in the very next game but came back strongly to win the next two games including a break in the 7^th game.

In the second set, Vaidehi raced to a 5-0 lead, courtesy three breaks in the 1^st, 3^rd and 5^th Naklo showed some resistance and broke Vaidehi’s serve in the 6^th and went on to hold her serve in the 7^th game. However, Vaidehi closed the match out in the next game to seal a spot in the main draw.    

Results: Final Qualifying Round

(All Indians unless mentioned, prefix denotes seeding)

12-Mei Yamaguchi (JPN) bt 1-Diana Marcinkevica (LAT) 1-6, 6-2, 6-2; 8-Saki Imamura (JPN) Vs. 10-Viktoria Morvayova (SVK); 4-Tina Nadine Smith (AUS) bt 13-Shrivalli Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty 6-2, 7-5; 7-Naho Sato (JPN) bt 16-Punnin Kovapitukted (THA) 6-2, 6-2; 9-Lena Papadakis (GER) bt 3-Rina Saigo (JPN) 6-4, 6-1; 6-Eri Shimizu (JPN) bt 15-Mana Kawamura (JPN) 6-4, 6-0; 11-Vaidehi Chaudhari bt 5-Thasaporn Naklo (THA) 6-2, 6-2; 2-Anna Siskova bt 14-Zeel Desai 6-1, 6-2.

The top seeds (Prefix indicates seeding, Country in bracket)

1-Darja Semenistaja (LAT), 2-Chloe Paquet (FRA), 3-Ekaterina Makarova, 4-Moyuka Uchijima (JPN), 5-Polina Kudermetova, 6-A Carole Monnet (FRA), 7-Sofya Lansere, 8-Ankita Raina (IND)

Bengaluru, Jan 14: Shrivalli Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty was amongst the three Indians out of 14 to enter the second round of qualifying in the KPB Trust ITF Women’s Open that began at the KSLTA Stadium here on Sunday. The 13^th seed overcame a fighting Ekaterina Yashina 7-5, 7-6 (5) in the first round.

Zeel Desai seeded 14^th and 11^th seed Vaidehi Chaudhary were the other Indians who advanced to the final round of qualifying. Eight qualifiers will be spotted on Monday who will play the main draw that begins on Tuesday.

Ekaterina began on a strong note earning a break in the second game itself and kept the pressure on her opponent. With the players choosing to adopt the baseline play and waiting for their opponent to commit a mistake, both held their respective serves for the next seven games. Rashmikaa, who had won her maiden ITF title at the Bowring Institute ITF Open late last year, won the next three games including two breaks in the 10^th and 12^th game to take the first set 7-5.

In the second set, both the rivals traded a break each in the 5^th and 6^th games respectively before Ekaterina broke the Indian’s serve in the seventh game and held her serve in the next to lead 5-3. The 22-year-old Rashmikaa, capitalised on the mistakes committed by her opponent to win the next three games earning a break in the 10^th game to lead 6-5. Ekaterina held her serve to take the set into a tie-breaker which could have gone either way.

Results Qualifying (Round of 32)

(All Indians unless mentioned, prefix denotes seeding)

1-Diana Marcinkevica (LAT) bt Lakshmi Gowda 6-2, 6-1;

12-Mei Yamaguchi (JPN) bt Yukina Saigo (JPN) 6-2, 6-0;

8-Saki Imamura (JPN) bt Yu-Yun Li (TPE) 6-1, 6-2;

16-Punnin Kovapitukted (THA) bt Elena Jamshidi (DEN) 6-0, 6-3;

10-Viktoria Morvayova (SVK) bt Akanksha Dileep Nitture 6-2, 6-4;

14-Zeel Desai bt Saumya Vig 6-3, 6-0;

4-Tina Nadine Smith (AUS) bt WC-Prathiba Narayan Prasad 6-0, 6-1;

15-Mana Kawamura (JPN) bt Vanshita Pathania 6-2, 6-4;

7-Naho Sato (JPN) bt Sravya Shivani Chilakalapudi 6-0, 6-0;

13-Shrivalli Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty bt Ekaterina Yashina 7-5, 7-6 (5);

11-Vaidehi Chaudhari bt WC-Kashvi Sunil 6-1, 6-1;

3-Rina Saigo (JPN) bt Smriti Bhasin 6-4, 6-0;

6-Eri Shimizu (JPN) bt Sharmada Balu 6-4, 6-1;

9-Lena Papadakis (GER) bt Vaishnavi Adkar 6-2, 7-5;

5-Thasaporn Naklo (THA) bt WC-Paavanii Paathak 6-2, 6-0;

2-Anna Siskova (CZE) bt Humera Baharmus 6-2, 6-1.

Mumbai, January 13, 2024: In the lead-up to the Australian Open 2024, tennis legend Novak Djokovic has been making headlines with his fitness and determination at the age of 36. With a potential 25th Grand Slam title up for the grabs, Djokovic sat down with Sony Sports Network, the official broadcaster for the tournament in India, to discuss his admiration for India and what drives him towards achieving great things every day. 

 
Regarding his connection with India, the 24-time Grand Slam winner expressed, “I’ve felt that for many years. I visited India only once around 10 or 11 years ago for a two-day exhibition event in New Delhi. It was a brief stay, and I hope to return soon to explore the country’s rich history, culture, and spirituality. I’ve great relationships with eminent personalities like Sachin, Virat and many others. I’ve been in touch with Virat Kohli over texts for a few years, but we have never met in person. It was a privilege to hear him speak kindly about me. I admire his career and achievements.”
 
The 10-time Australian Open winner, Novak, will face Croatian Dino Prižmić in the first round of the Australian Open on Sunday, in the year when Novak is all set to eye a Golden Slam.
In the exclusive interview conducted with Somdev Devvarman – Olympian & Former No. 1 India Tennis Player, Asian Games & Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist, and panellist on Extraaa Serve, Novak also discussed his motivation on and off the court. Djokovic said, “I feel blessed to be in this position, living my dream. I have been working all my life to be in this position and to be in this kind of circumstances I find myself right now. As a 4-5-year-old boy in Serbia, I’ve always dreamt of reaching the greatest heights of Tennis, Winning Grand Slams and making history in this beautiful sport that has given me and my family so much. Coming from a country that faced challenges in the ’90s, my family had to gather money and resources for me to able to continue pursuing my dream and to play tennis. This humble upbringing makes me appreciate my achievements and where I am now. I use this platform for good, enjoying myself, growing my brand, and pursuing my passions while sticking to my core values. Whether through early childhood education through the Novak Djokovic Foundation for the past 15 years in Serbia or through the joint efforts with the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA), where we are trying to improve the livelihood of tennis players.”
 
Sony Sports Network will bring all the LIVE action from the tournament in English and Hindi, while Tamil and Telugu language feeds will be added from the Quarterfinals stage onwards.

Bengaluru, Jan 13: The third edition of the KPB Trust ITF Women’s Open begins today with the qualifying rounds to be played on Sunday and Monday at the KSLTA Stadium. The event boasts of a prize purse of US $40,000 and has attracted the best of women’s tennis talent from around the world.

The qualifying includes 32 players vying for eight spots in the main draw. Meanwhile, promising lass 15-year-old Kasvi Sunil from Mandya has been given a wild card for the qualifiers. The other names include Lakshmi Gowda, Vanshita Pathania Pratibha Narayan Prasad and Paavanii Pathak.

Meanwhile Diana Marcinkevica of Latvia has been given the top billing in the qualifying draw while Anna Siskoca of Czech Republic is seeded second. Rina Saigo of Japan is seeded No.3 while Tina Nadine Smith of Australia and Thasaporn Naklo of Thailand have been seeded fourth and fifth respectively.

Mandya, Jan 13: The Indian challenge in the men’s singles of the PET ITF Mandya Open ended when Karan Singh and Siddharth Vishwakarma bowed out in semifinals of the PET ITF Mandya Open. While Karan Singh lost to Jelle Sels of The Netherlands 1-6, 4-6, Siddharth went down fighting against third seed Orel Kimhi of Israel 6-2, 5-7, 4-6 at the PET Stadium here on Saturday.

After having two second place finishes in the doubles, it was third time lucky for Manish Sureshkumar and his partner Parikshit Somani as the all-Indian duo came back from a set down to lift the doubles trophy after defeating the pair of Woobin Shin of Korea and Karan Singh 4-6, 6-1, 10-8.

In the first semifinals, Karan adopted an aggressive approach which proved detrimental as he lost his serve in the second game itself. The 20-year-old showed a glimpse of recovery when he broke his rival’s serve in the third game but could not sustain the sudden rush of form. Jelle displayed some quality tennis shots and won five games in a row to seal the first set 6-1.

Karan began with renewed zeal in the second set and played some great cross court winners and gained an early break in the second game and went 3-0 up. However, the Indian began committing unforced errors which gave Jelle the upperhand. The 28-year-old who was ranked 127^th in the world two seasons ago, served well and often attacked the net which fetched him the next five games and handed him a 5-3 lead. Karan held his serve in the ninth game before Jelle served out for the match that lasted only 70 minutes.

In the second semifinal, National Games champion Siddharth made a breezy start, whipping his forehand and dishing out big serves and took a 3-0 lead with a break in the second game and broke once again in the eight game to take the first set 6-2. The 20-year-old Israeli then began stitching his game in the latter part of the second set where he was 1-3 down but came back to level at 3 and broke Siddharth’s serve in the 11^th game before serving out for the set.

In the deciding set, the games went with the serve until the sixth game after which Orel achieved the crucial break in the seventh game and finally served out for the match after both the players had held their respective serves. The match lasted 2 hours and 29 minutes.

Results (all Indians unless mentioned, prefix denotes seeding)

Singles (Semifinals)

Jelle Sels (NED) bt Karan Singh 6-1, 6-4; 3-Orel Kimhi (ISR) bt Siddharth Vishwakarma 2-6, 7-5, 6-4

Doubles (Final)

4-Parikshit Somani/Manish Sureshkumar bt Woobin Shin (KOR)/Karan Singh 4-6, 6-1, 10-8.

The Australian Open and Asahi Beverages have announced a new multi-year deal that will see Peroni Nastro Azzurro and Somersby return as the Official Beer & Cider Partners of the Australian Open.

Peroni will bring a taste of the Mediterranean to the Australian Open at the Peroni Capri Beach Club on Grand Slam Oval where fans can enjoy the laidback beach lifestyle of Capri while taking in all the tennis action on the giant screens.

The Peroni Capri Beach Club will elevate further on Saturday 20 January, with Peroni becoming the naming rights partner for one of the biggest days at the Australian Open – to be known as Peroni Super Saturday. It will be the only place on Grand Slam Oval offering live music and beer on-tap, adding to the incredible energy on one of the Open’s busiest days.

“We’re delighted to welcome Asahi’s iconic brands back to the Australian Open and to bring the partnership to life for fans with unique on-site activations,” Tennis Australia’s Chief Commercial Officer Cedric Cornelis said.

“Peroni Super Saturday is set to be an incredible day at the Australian Open and Grand Slam Oval will be the place to take in the atmosphere, without needing to miss a minute of the tennis.”

 
Marc Slater, Asahi Beverages Marketing Manager, says, “We are excited to return to the Australian Open, reinforcing our partnership with this iconic event. Our various on-site activations create a unique way for fans to engage with the tournament and our diverse range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic brands. We can’t wait to be part of the Australian Open’s vibrant atmosphere once again.

“The Peroni Capri Beach Club will be bringing the vibrant coastal lifestyle of Capri to Grand Slam oval, offering fans a refreshing oasis retreat throughout the event. As naming rights partner to the Peroni Super Saturday, we look forward to reinvigorating one of the most iconic days on the Australian sporting calendar. With exclusive live music, big screen viewing and fresh Peroni beer on-tap, there is no better place to soak up the electric atmosphere of the AO.”

Fans attending the Australian Open will be able to enjoy Peroni’s newest beer, Peroni Nastro Azzurro Stile Capri, an easy-drinking and refreshing beer, perfect for relaxing summer days. Fans will also have the chance to win a trip to Capri, Italy, throughout the tournament as well ticketing and hospitality giveaways to the Peroni Superbox at Rod Laver Arena (T&Cs apply).

The partnership will also see Balter, one of Australia’s favourite craft breweries at the tennis, serving up a range of crowd-pleasing beers from the sleek Balter Bar in Garden Square. Fans can also enjoy the refreshing taste of Somersby Super Crisp, serving outside Kia Arena.
Asahi Lifestyle Beverages’ non-alcohol portfolio will also be supplied throughout the precinct.

Mandya, Jan 12: Karan Singh scripted the biggest upset of the tournament when he showed the top seed Kris Van Wyk of South Africa the door to enter the semifinals of the PET ITF Mandya Open. In the first quarterfinal played at the PET Stadium here on Friday, the 20-year-old won in straight sets 6-3, 6-3 to set-up a last-four clash with Jelle Sels of The Netherlands. Sels quelled the challenge of his country mate Thijmen Loof 6-7 (4), 6-1, 6-4 in the longest match of the day that lasted a little over two hours.

Following Karan’s footsteps was Siddharth Vishwakarma who also registered an upset victory over fifth seed Nam Hoang Ly of Vietnam in straight sets 6-1, 6-4. The lanky Indian will meet third seed Orel Kimhi in the other semifinal. The Isralian stopped the dream run of Madhwin Kamath with a 7-6 (5), 6-0 win.

Meanwhile, Karan and his Korean partner Woobin Shin upset the third-seeded pair of Tsung-Hao Huang of Taipei and Kris Van Wyk with a scoreline of 1-6, 6-3, 10-7 to enter the finals of the doubles event. Karan and Woobi will meet the fourth seeded all Indian pair of Parikshit Somani and Manish Sureshkumar who breezed past the top seeded duo of Grigoriy Lomakin of Khazakstan and Austrian David Pichler 6-3, 6-2.

The quarterfinal match between Karan and Van Wyk was a see-saw battle as both the players played well and had bad shots, all at the same time. Breaking the top seed’s serve in the 1^st and third games, Karan, using a strong forehand went 3-0 up. However, the visitor returned the favour, achieving two breaks in the 4^th and the 6^th game to restore parity. A similar pattern followed during the last three games, where the lad from Haryana broke Van Wyk’s serve in the 7^th and 9^th games to take the first set. The second set saw the players holding on to their respective serves until the seventh game where Karan held an 4-3 edge over his rival. The visitor suddenly lost focus and cool and committed a series of unforced errors to lose his serve in the eighth game, which helped Karan wrap up the match in 53 minutes.

In another quarterfinal tie, the 29-year-old Vishwakarma made it look a one-sided affair as the left-hander served with aplomb and returned with fervour. After both the opponents held their respective serves in the first two games, Vishwakarma raced away to grab the first set at 6-1 with breaks in the fourth and the sixth game. The second set saw Hoang claw back in the match going 4-2 up with a break in the sixth game. However, the Indian struck back strongly and didn’t give much of a chance to his fancied rival in the next four games, which he won in a row to win the set and the match.                   

Results (all Indians unless mentioned, prefix denotes seeding)

Singles (Quarterfinals)

Karan Singh bt 1-Kris Van Wyk (RSA) 6-3, 6-3; 3-Orel Kimhi (ISR) bt Q-Madhwin Kamath 7-6 (5), 6-0; Siddharth Vishwakarma bt 5-Nam Hoang Ly (VIE) 6-1, 6-4; Jelle Sels (NED) bt Q-Thijmen Loof (NED) 6-7 (4), 6-1, 6-4; Semifinal line-up: Karan Singh Vs. Jelle Sels (NED) 10 a.m.

Siddharth Vishwakarma Vs. 3-Orel Kimhi (ISR) 11 a.m.

Doubles (Semifinals)

Woobin Shin (KOR)/Karan Singh bt 3-Tsung-Hao Huang (TPE)/Kris Van Wyk (RSA) 1-6, 6-3, 10-7; 4-Parikshit Somani/Manish Sureshkumar bt 1-Grigoriy Lomakin (KAZ)/David Pichler (AUT) 6-3, 6-2.

Overnight unfinished Quarterfinals

1-Grigoriy Lomakin (KAZ)/David Pichler (AUT) bt Sai Karteek Reddy Ganta/Vishnu Vardhan 6-3, 6-3; 4-Parikshit Somani/Manish Sureshkumar bt M Rifqi Fitriadi (INA)/Mitsuki Wei Kang Leong (MAS) 6-4, 6-1; Woobin Shin (KOR)/Karan Singh bt Orel Kimhi (ISR)/Ofek Shimanov (ISR) 6-7 (8), 5-5 (retd).

Sony Sports Network is proud to announce its continued association with the prestigious Australian Open, bringing the electrifying LIVE telecast of the 2024 edition to tennis enthusiasts across India. The tournament, scheduled from Sunday, 14th January 2024, to Sunday, 28th January 2024, will captivate fans as Melbourne Park hosts the world’s tennis elite in a battle for the coveted first grand slam title of the year. Sony Sports Network will bring all the LIVE action from the tournament in English and Hindi, while Tamil and Telugu language feeds will be added from the Quarterfinals stage onwards.

Leading up to the tournament, Sony Sports Network launched it’s ‘#SlamOfTheGreats’ campaign, masterfully capturing all the thrills, competitive spirit, and excitement that the Australian Open has always offered. The campaign pays tribute to some of the greatest tennis moments in the history of the game, and also feature’s India’s own Tennis great Sania Mirza announcing her arrival to world tennis with her first Grand Slam win in 2009.

In a historic first, the Australian Open will begin on a Sunday, giving tennis fans an extra day of play. This change aims to reduce the pressure on late-night finishes for both the players and the fans, while also bringing one extra day of live tennis action.

As temperatures soar in Melbourne, the anticipation for the first tennis Grand Slam of the year is heating up, with Novak Djokovic aiming to surpass Margaret Court’s record of 24 Grand Slam victories. Djokovic faces mighty competition from the likes of Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, and Jannik Sinner, all vying to etch their name in the history books. Fans of Women’s Tennis are in for a treat too with Aryna Sabalenka aiming to defend her title and ward off any challenges from current world number one Iga Świątek.

Comments:
Rajesh Kaul, Chief Revenue Officer – Distribution & International Business and Head – Sports Business, Sony Pictures Networks India:
“It’s that time of the year when the best tennis stars gather in Melbourne to compete for the ultimate glory in the year’s first Grand Slam. The Australian Open has consistently been the most watched Grand Slam in India for the last few years.  Our commitment extends beyond on-field action, featuring off-field initiatives like expert insights and opinions from two-time Australian Open winner Sania Mirza and Former India No 1, Somdev Devvarman on our live studio show, Extraaa Serve.”

Sania Mirza, Two-times Australian Open winner & Brand Ambassador for Tennis on Sony Sports Network:

“The Australian Open tournament holds a special place in my heart as I made my Grand Slam debut at the Australian Open in 2005. The Grand Slam continues to be a strong platform for players to showcase their talent, and this year’s tournament will feature both emerging talents and established stars lighting up the court. I am looking forward to being a part of Extraaa Serve on Sony Sports Network as a panellist through the course of the tournament.  Throughout the broadcast, we will bring fans closer to all the live action in Australia and also present behind-the-scenes moments of this sporting spectacle.”

“It’s an absolute pleasure to be a part of Sony Sports Network’s Australian Open broadcast. It’s a tournament that never fails to deliver incredible moments, and I look forward to being a part of the team that brings these moments to your screens. Sony Sports Network has been a champion for tennis in India, and I’m thrilled to contribute to the passion and excitement that the Australian Open always brings.”

As the ‘Home of Tennis’ in India, Sony Sports Network offers year-long marquee tennis events, featuring three out of the four Grand Slams – Australian Open, Roland Garros (French Open), and US Open, along with Davis Cup and ATP Masters, making it the ultimate destination for top-tier tennis action. The Australian Open, in particular, holds a special place in the hearts of Indian tennis enthusiasts, consistently ranking as one of the most-watched tennis tournaments on Indian television.

Tennis Australia today announced a new partnership with Google Pixel to become the Official Smartphone and Official Camera of the Australian Open.  

The AI powered camera of the Google Pixel will give fans unprecedented access and never before seen footage of the Australian Open. The partnership will unlock new in-play viewing angles, showcase iconic AO moments and allow fans to get closer to the players and the action, both on-court and behind the scenes, through a unique #PixelPerspective.  

The Australian Open 2024 social media team will be capturing all content through the lens of a Google Pixel 8 Pro, demonstrating the device’s incredible camera quality and the latest AI-powered features. The team will use the latest device to help get fans even closer and experience more of the game they love. 

“We are incredibly excited to welcome Google Pixel as an Australian Open partner. The amazing AI powered camera on the Pixel 8 pro will enable our social media team to capture world-class content for the Australian Open and give fans a new, up-close perspective of the sport played at its best,” says Tennis Australia’s Chief Commercial Officer, Cedric Cornelis.

Google Pixel will also welcome Rinky Hijikata as a new ambassador at AO 2024. One of the sport’s most exciting rising stars, last year at just 22 years old, Hijikata won the Australian Open men’s doubles title. He also progressed to the Round of 16 in singles of the US Open, becoming the first Australian wildcard to achieve this. Using his Pixel 8 Pro, Rinky will give fans an unmatched look behind the scenes to see what life is like at the AO for the world’s best tennis players.

“We’re thrilled to be the official Smartphone and Camera of the Australian Open. With the most advanced Pixel to date, the Pixel 8 Pro will give fans unprecedented access to all the action, and help deliver a unique and memorable fan experience at this iconic event,” says Julia Davis, Director of Marketing, Google Australia.

  

“Thanks to the Google Pixel 8 Pro, the AO social team can use Super Res Zoom to get up to 30x zoom to capture details of players on court you might not have seen before, remove loud background crowd noise in videos with Audio Magic Eraser and even capture great images in low-light thanks to Night Sight.” 

January 11, 2024

The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) has announced that the Bad Homburg Open, powered by Solarwatt, will be staged as a WTA 500 tournament for the 2024 season. This elevation in status marks a significant milestone in the tournament’s history, reflecting its growing prestige in the tennis world.

Key Changes and Highlights

• Prize Money Increase: The prize money for the Bad Homburg Open will nearly triple to almost $1 million, with a clear pathway to equal prize money by 2027.
• Enhanced Ranking Points: The winner will now receive twice as many WTA Ranking points (500) compared to previous years.
• Stronger Player Field: The revised WTA calendar will focus on delivering top talent each week in a consistent and clear manner.
• Expanded Media Coverage: The tournament is guaranteed an increase in worldwide TV broadcast in up to 168 markets, enhancing its international visibility.
• Participation of Top Stars: Three-time Grand Slam champion Angelique Kerber, who won the tournament in 2021, has already announced her participation for 2024.

The Bad Homburg Open’s upgrade to a WTA 500 event reflects its success and the quality of the event, which has been well-supported by capacity crowds and praised by players since its inception in 2021. The tournament is integral to providing world-class players with the best preparation for Wimbledon.

Thursday 11 January, 2024: The Australian Professional Leagues (APL) has kicked-off its inaugural Unite Round as the A-Leagues become the first code in Australia to celebrate a full men’s and women’s round in a single city. 

From Friday January 12 to Sunday January 14, Sydney will play host to all 12 Isuzu UTE A-League Men and Liberty A-League Women matches, hosted at Allianz Stadium, CommBank Stadium and Leichhardt Oval.

The weekend begins with a multicultural celebration on Friday January 12 at CommBank Stadium with more than 350 attendees representing more than 40 nationalities of current and past A-Leagues players and promises an array of football fan activity with fan zones within the stadiums featuring player signings, live music, giveaways, face painting and more.

To further encourage young girls’ involvement in football, a series of girls’ clinics will be conducted at Leichhardt Oval, aiming to introduce fundamental skills to girls aged 6-12. These clinics offer the opportunity to meet their favourite football stars as well as former and current Commbank Matildas, including Sydney FC’s Cortnee Vine, Melbourne Victory’s Alex Chidiac and Central Coast Mariners’ Kyah Simon.

Nick Garcia , A-Leagues Commissioner, said:

“The launch of our inaugural Unite Round marks an exciting moment for the A-Leagues. It is a historic moment for the domestic game as we become the first league in Australia to celebrate a full men’s and women’s round in the one city. With fans from every A-Leagues team from across Australia and New Zealand gathering here in Sydney, coupled with the presence of our competitions’ top players, this promises to be an unforgettable weekend.”

Minister for Jobs and Tourism John Graham said:

“Unite Round is a genuine festival of football, bringing together all 12 A-Leagues men’s and women’s clubs, as well as grassroots competitors from 6 to under-12 age groups, for one bumper round in Sydney.

“Along with football fans, NSW will be the winner, with thousands expected to visit Sydney for the event over the next two years. We can’t wait to welcome Australia’s football family to Sydney.”

Tickets for a 3-Day Pass and general public are accessible through Ticketek, with adult tickets beginning at $25. 

This A-Leagues event is supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.

Unite Round Fixtures: Isuzu UTE A-League Men

Date	Team 1	Team 2	Venue	Kick off (AEDT)
Fri 12 Jan	Macarthur FC	Western United FC	CommBank Stadium	5:30pm
Fri 12 Jan	Melbourne City FC	Western Sydney Wanderers	CommBank Stadium	8:15pm
Sat 13 Jan	Central Coast Mariners	Melbourne Victory	Allianz Stadium	5:15pm
Sat 13 Jan	Adelaide United	Sydney FC	Allianz Stadium	8:00pm
Sun 14 Jan	Brisbane Roar FC	Newcastle Jets	Allianz Stadium	7:45pm
Sun 14 Jan	Perth Glory	Wellington Phoenix	CommBank Stadium	7:45pm

Unite Round Fixtures: Liberty A-League Women

Date	Team 1	Team 2	Venue	Kick off (AEDT)
Fri 12 Jan	Melbourne Victory	Perth Glory	Leichhardt Oval	5:00pm
Fri 12 Jan	Wellington Phoenix	Central Coast Mariners	Leichhardt Oval	7:45pm
Sat 13 Jan	Canberra United	Adelaide United	Leichhardt Oval	5:00pm
Sat 13 Jan	Brisbane Roar FC	Newcastle Jets	Leichhardt Oval	7:45pm
Sun 14 Jan	Western Sydney Wanderers	Melbourne City FC	CommBank Stadium	5:00pm
Sun 14 Jan	Western United FC	Sydney FC	Allianz Stadium	5:00pm

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The WTA today on Wednesday announced the Nordea Open in Bastad, Sweden has been voted as the 2023 WTA 125 Tournament of the Year for the second consecutive season.

The event won the inaugural award in 2022 and once again has been voted by WTA players as the standout tournament on the WTA 125 calendar.

The WTA athlete body selected the Nordea Open as the winner on the merits of its excellence of staff and organization, passionate fans and wider dedication to the sport and its players.

The 2023 event marked the fourth edition of the tournament, which crowned Olga Danilovic as the singles champion and Irina Khromacheva and Panna Udvardy as the doubles winners. Last season, the Nordea Open was one of 31 WTA 125 tournaments staged, and it will be held again in 2024 during the week of July 8.

The Nordea Open joins the WTA 1000 BNP Paribas Open (Indian Wells), WTA 500 Credit One Charleston Open and the WTA 250 Transylvania Open (Cluj-Napoca) as fellow 2023 Tournament Award winners.