Sports
Aryna Sabalenka defeats Elena Rybakina for Aussie Open title
MELBOURNE, Australia —The serves were big. So big. Other shots too. The points were over quickly. So quickly, including aces on seven of the first 13.And so it was immediately apparent in the Australian Open women’s final between Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina that the player who could manage to keep her serve in line, get a read on returns and remain steady at the tightest moments would emerge victorious.
That turned out to be Sabalenka, a 24-year-old from Belarus, who won her first Grand Slam title by coming back to beat Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 at Melbourne Park on Saturday night, using 17 aces among her 51 total winners to overcome seven double faults.
It was telling that Sabalenka’s remarks during the postmatch ceremony were directed at her coach, Anton Dubrov, and her fitness trainer, Jason Stacy. She referred to them as “the craziest team on tour, I would say.”
“We’ve been through a lot of, I would say, downs last year,” said Sabalenka, who was appearing in her first major final. “We worked so hard, and you guys deserve this trophy. It’s more about you than it’s about me.”
Now 11-0 in 2023 with two titles, Sabalenka is a powerful player whose most glowing strength was also her most glaring shortfall: her serve. Long capable of hammering aces, she also had a well-known problem with double-faulting, leading the tour in that category last year with nearly 400, including more than 20 apiece in some matches.
After much prodding from her group, she finally agreed to undergo an overhaul of her serving mechanics in August. That, along with a commitment to trying to stay calm in the most high-pressure moments, is paying off now.
The only set she has dropped all season was the opener Saturday against Rybakina, who eliminated No. 1 Iga Swiatek in the fourth round.But Sabalenka turned things around with an aggressive style and, importantly, by breaking Rybakina three times, the last coming for a 4-3 lead in the third set that was never relinquished.
Still, Sabalenka needed to work for the championship while serving in what would be the final game, double-faulting on her initial match point and requiring three more to close things out.When Rybakina sent a forehand long to cap the final after nearly 2½ hours, Sabalenka dropped to her back on the court and stayed down for a bit, covering her face as her eyes welled with tears.
Sabalenka was 0-3 in Grand Slam semifinals until eliminating Magda Linette in Melbourne. Now Sabalenka has done one better and will rise to No. 2 in the rankings.As seagulls were squawking loudly while flying overhead at Rod Laver Arena, Rybakina and Sabalenka traded booming serves. Rybakina’s fastest arrived at 121 mph, Sabalenka’s at 119 mph. They traded zooming groundstrokes from the baseline, often untouchable, resulting in winner after winner.
“Hopefully,” Rybakina said afterward, “we’re going to have many more battles.”
The key statistic, ultimately, was this: Sabalenka accumulated 13 break points, Rybakina seven. Sabalenka’s trio of conversions was enough, and the constant pressure she managed to apply during Rybakina’s service games had to take a toll.
Sabalenka had been broken just six times in 55 service games through the course of these two weeks, an average of once per match. It took Rybakina fewer than 10 minutes of action and all of two receiving games to get the measure of things and lead 2-1, helped by getting back one serve that arrived at 117 mph.
A few games later, Sabalenka returned the favor, also putting her racket on one of Rybakina’s offerings at that same speed. Then, when Sabalenka grooved a down-the-line backhand passing winner to grab her first break and pull even at 4-all, she looked at Dubrov and Stacy in the stands, raised a fist and shouted.
In the next game, though, Sabalenka gave that right back, double-faulting twice, including on break point, to give Rybakina a 5-4 edge. This time, Sabalenka again turned toward her entourage, but with a sigh and an eye roll and arms extended, as if to say, “Can you believe it?”
Soon after, Rybakina held at love to own that set.Sabalenka changed the momentum right from the get-go in the second set. Aggressively attacking, she broke to go up 3-1, held for 4-1 and eventually served it out, fittingly, with an ace — on a second serve, no less.
She acknowledged ahead of time that she expected to be nervous. Which makes perfect sense: This was the most important match of her career to date.And if those jitters were evident early — double-faulting on the match’s first point — and appeared to be resurfacing as the end neared, Sabalenka controlled them well enough to finish the job.
(ESPN)
by Reemus Fernando
St. John’s College Jaffna and their arch rivals Central College Jaffna have a success story to celebrate when they meet in the annual Battle of the North Big Match at Central College ground on Thursday.
For the first time in the historic match, the two schools have in their ranks players who have represented the national youth team.
Ranjithkumar Newton who captains Central team and St. John’s Kugadas Mathulan were among country’s top speedsters selected to represent the Youth team late last year. The two pacemen did well during the Youth Asia Cup.
Hence both Mathulan and Newton are expected to lead the pace attacks of the two schools.
St. John’s are captained by J. Ashnath. They encountered fluctuating fortunes this season. Their report card shows two outright victories against two defeats at the end of ten matches. They could not complete their full quota of matches in the tournament proper and that has made them fight for their place in the Division II Tier ‘A’ tournament. They have taken the first step successfully in the relegation matches beating St. Peter’s College Negombo by an innings and 56 runs to keep alive their chances of remaining in the top Tier of Division II tournament.
Central too had two victories against two defeats and will be eager to conclude the Tier B tournament on a successful note.
When the two teams meet it is St. John’s who lead the talley 38-29.
St. John’s College Team
(Seated from left) A. Sansajan (Coach), S. Thileepan (Master in Charge), U. Abijoyshanth, J. Ashnath (Captain), V. S. B. Thuseetharan (Principal), M. Randyo (Vice Captain), K. Mathulan, C. A. Aravinthan (Prefect of Games). (Second row-standing from left) S. John Nathenia, E. Vandat Mario, S. Vinukshan, R. Anushanth, S. Aatharsh, V. Sanjay, Y. Sarujan, K. Sanjuthan, D. Larun. (Back row- standing from left) N. Krishan, G. Methun, S. Kirshan, A. John Stafford Arnold, R. Nithursijan.
Central College Team
(Seated from left) V.Paruthy, K.Balakumar (Prefect Of Games), R.Newton (Captain), S. Indrakumar (Principal), T.Abilash (Vice captain), F. Kulendran Shelton (Coach), S. Similton, S. Manimaran (Master in Charge). (Second row standing from left) S. Thison, M. Karthikan, S. Niyanthan, N. Sajith, K. Mathusuthan, T. Venujan, R. Akshayan, M. Thison, A. Abishek, P. Navinthan, A. Sharalan, S. Danushan. (Back row from left) U. Voltan, J. Jenoshan, V. Harish, S. Sarujan.
The Hundred Sri Lanka International Challenge 2025, where over 650 international shuttlers representing 28 countries including Sri Lanka, commenced at the St. Joseph’s College Indoor Complex, Darley Road on Tuesday. Rev. Fr. Ranjith Andradi, the Rector of St. Joseph’s College, Colombo, the hosting venue, graced the opening ceremony as chief guest, with Rohan de Silva, President of Sri Lanka Badminton (SLB), Dinesh Jayawardene, Vice President of SLB and Chairman of Organising Committee and other invitees and dignitaries making their presence at the inauguration of Sri Lanka’s first high-ranked international badminton tournament this year.
The six-day competition, which was initially planned to be staged at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium in Colombo, was shifted to Darley Road due to unavailability of the original venue. St. Joseph’s College authorities swiftly responded to the request made by Sri Lanka Badminton officials in making the Hundred Sri Lanka International Challenge 2025 and the upcoming Hundred Sri Lanka International Series 2025 that will follow soon after, a success, given the fact that the competition is of great importance to the country, both in badminton as well as toursim.
“I should thank St. Joseph’s College and Rev. Fr. Ranjith Andradi for promptly coming forward in assisting Sri Lanka Badminton to rearrange this 12-day competitions at their Indoor Complex. Their assistance should be greatly appreciated given the fact that SLB had limited time to make all venue arrangements after the original venue was taken out from hosting over 650 international players competing under one roof. Over 80 players are expected to be in action every day, and there are 80 to 90 officials on duty at any given time to make this event a success. Approximately 200 hotel rooms will be utilised during the 12-day tournaments, which is definitely a boost to tourism in Sri Lanka in addition to the country’s badminton,” noted Dinesh Jayawardene, Vice President of SLB and Chairman of Organising Committee.
The Hundred Sri Lanka International Challenge 2025 will feature five events – Men’s and Women’s Singles, Men’s Women’s and Mixed Doubles, where over 650 international badminton players from 28 countries, including hosts Sri Lanka, will contest. The global event is sanctioned by Badminton World Federation (BWF) and Badminton Asia (BA). A total prize money of USD 17,500 will be on offer at the Hundred Sri Lanka International Challenge 2025 which is sponsored by Hundred, Mobil, McFoil, 3M and Rovin
Senuja Wakunugoda scored an unbeaten century for St. Joseph’s to seal 17 runs victory according to Parabola Method as the Darley Road team ended the unbeaten run of St. Anthony’s Katugastota in the Under 19 Division I Tier ‘A’ limited overs tournament at Katugastota.
Batting first the home team made 252 runs as Kevan Fernando scored an unbeaten half century. In their essay the Joes were helped by a quick fire half century by Aveesha Samash and an unbeaten century by Wakunugoda. The Joes were 17 runs ahead according to Parabola method.
Joes win at Katugastota
Scores
St. Anthony’s 252 all out in 50 overs
(Januka Rathnayake 30, Anjana Weerasekara 25, Sadew Amarakoon 37, Kaushika Kumarasinghe 41, Kevan Fernando 61n.o.; Yenula Dewthusa 2/33, Nimthaka Gunewardena 3/41, Demion de Silva 2/38)
St. Joseph’s 249 for 3 in 41.2 overs
(Aveesha Samash 68, Senuja Wakunugoda 102n.o., Yenula Dewthusa 41; Ryan Gregory 2/44)
It is our collective responsibility to build a nation grounded in unity and strength – President
Fairly heavy showers above 75mm can be expected at some places in Eastern and Uva provinces and in Matale, Nuwara-Eliya, Polonnaruwa, Galle, Matara, Kalutara and Rathnapura districts.
USD 900,000 paid monthly for three unused SriLankan aircraft– Dy. Finance Minister
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