Sports
Aryna Sabalenka’s remarkable Australia record continues, injury retirements spoil ATP, WTA finals
Welcome back to the Monday Tennis Briefing, where The Athletic will explain the stories behind the stories from the past week on court.
This week, the first tournaments of 2025 reached their sharp ends all across Australia and New Zealand. Aryna Sabalenka continued a remarkable record and too many matches were ended by retirements.
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How to beat Aryna Sabalenka in Australia?
On the face of it, there’s little to give the rest of the field hope. World No. 1 Sabalenka comes into the Australian Open as the two-time defending champion, on a run of 27 wins in 28 hard-court Grand Slam matches that took in her first U.S. Open title in September alongside the two Melbourne majors.
She has also won 27 of her last 28 matches in Australia after winning the Brisbane International title on Sunday, staying strong in an event in which 10 of the 16 seeded players exited at the first opportunity.
It wasn’t as straightforward as her record in Australia suggests. Sabalenka had to battle past Mirra Andreeva in the semis in a tougher match than the 6-3, 6-2 scoreline suggests, before overcoming a wobbly first set to beat qualifier Polina Kudermetova 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the final. Sabalenka hit 36 unforced errors in what was a pretty scratchy performance, but she got the job done.
At this stage, she knows that against pretty much every opponent, the match will be on her racket. If Sabalenka plays close to her best level, she appears pretty much unbeatable on this surface, with the rest of the field hoping for either a lights-out performance of their own, or one of Sabalenka’s increasingly infrequent off-days.
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‘I can be the best player in the world’: Aryna Sabalenka crowns the season of her life
Charlie Eccleshare
Why so many injury retirements just a week into the season?
The first week of the 2025 tennis season — a chunk of which took place in 2024 — had a very 2021 feel, as Reilly Opelka and Naomi Osaka plowed into the finals in Australia and New Zealand respectively. Back then, Osaka was the world’s dominant woman and Opelka was a top-20 player.
But come the clinch, their starts to 2025 ended up feeling like their 2024s. Opelka, who has struggled with hip and wrist injuries and a host of related complications for much of the past two years, retired from his final in Brisbane against Jiri Lehecka with a back injury down 4-1 in the first set.
Osaka, who battled plenty of niggles through 2024 and ended the season early with a back injury, won the first set of her final against Clara Tauson before retiring with an abdominal injury.
It’s not the way either player wanted to finish some of their best weeks in a long time, but with the season’s first Grand Slam just six days away, stopping short of the finish line appeared to be the only safe move. One word they both used during their post-match comments: “Sorry”.
Both players have seemingly been around forever but are also still relatively young. Osaka, 27, said last year she was focused on trying to play at least another five to seven years; in Auckland she suggested that her longevity would be more tied to her ranking than her body.
“I’d rather spend time with my daughter if I’m not where I think I should be and where I feel like I can be,” she said in a news conference.
Opelka has not had the luxury of thinking long-term like that. A nearly seven-feet tall frame carries its own disadvantages when it comes to injury prevention.
Reilly Opelka beat Novak Djokovic on his run to the final in Brisbane (William West / AFP via Getty Images)
“I’m going to really embrace these next couple weeks to train and get a lot stronger physically,” Opelka said after his first-round loss at the U.S. Open in August, which was early days for his comeback.
“The goal is to be able to pin a really big offseason in December.”
There was one other high-profile retirement, with Tomas Machac suddenly pulling out of his match against Taylor Fritz in the semifinals of the United Cup. Machac, who was up a set and 5-2, had two match points on Fritz’s serve and served for the match, but the American broke him to take the set to 4-5.
At the changeover, Machac imploded, throwing his racket and screaming at his coach. At the next one, down 6-5 with Fritz serving to take the match to a third set, he did it again. One point into the game, Machac walked to the net and told Fritz he’d been suffering from cramps, having been pointing and gesturing at his upper legs for parts of the second set.
Machac then pulled out of the Adelaide International with a knee injury, also hoping to be fit for the Australian Open. Having spent 2024 looking at times like a world-beater, at times mentally and physically undercooked, he remains an enigma.
Matt Futterman
A last flourish for Kei Nishikori?
On the subject of injuries, given the rotten luck he’s had, surely no one would begrudge Kei Nishikori a last flourish in his career. Now 35, the former world No. 4 knows his best days are behind him, but continues to give everything in search of another big moment.
Just staying fit for a while would probably feel like enough, but Nishikori is suggesting he might just be capable of a first title in six years. He went all the way to the final in the 250-level Hong Kong Open last week, coming within a set of victory only to run out of steam in the final against Alexandre Muller, who won all five of his matches from a set down. Nishikori succumbed 2-6, 6-1, 6-3.
His resurgence follows his 2014 U.S. Open final opponent Marin Cilic coming back from devastating injury problems of his own to win the Hangzhou Open in September, and a month earlier Nishikori told The Athletic in a Zoom interview that 2025 was the year he wanted to push for better results.
Of 2024, he said, “I still want to go slow. And hopefully I can stay healthy and play many matches.” He then added, “I hope I can start playing good from next year.”
Most of the tennis world hopes so too.
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Charlie Eccleshare
To defend or not to defend a title?
A strange thing happened during this Australian summer of tennis: the defending WTA champions of 2024 decided they didn’t much feel like protecting their titles.
Coco Gauff won Auckland last year; she played United Cup this year. Elena Rybakina won Brisbane; she, too decided to play the United Cup.
Emma Navarro won Hobart, back when she was a player who played tournaments the week before a Grand Slam because everything was new and she needed rankings points wherever she could find them. That’s not who she thought she was anymore, given that she is the world No. 8. She signed up for Brisbane, but then became one of a slew of seeds to exit early, falling to Kimberly Birrell of Australia.
That loss turned Navarro back into a player who plays the week before a Slam, with the American heading to Adelaide for matches moreso than points. Things worked out better for Gauff: she played five United Cup matches and won all five, the last against Iga Swiatek of Poland, her longtime nemesis. That’s about the definition of match-ready.
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How does Coco Gauff solve a problem like Iga Swiatek?
Matt Futterman
Shot of the week
Coco Gauff has tennis fans digging out their protractors with this one.
Recommended reading:
🏆 The winners of the week
🎾 United Cup:
🏆 USA def. Poland 2-0 to win the United Cup in Sydney. It is the country’s second United Cup title.
🎾 ATP:
🏆 Jiri Lehecka def. Reilly Opelka 4-1 (ret.) to win the Brisbane International (250) in Brisbane, Australia. It is his second ATP Tour title, both coming in Australia.
🏆 Alexandre Muller def. Kei Nishikori (WC) 2-6, 6-1, 6-3 to win the Hong Kong Open (250) in Hong Kong, China. It is his first ATP Tour title.
🏆 Joao Fonseca def. Ethan Quinn 6-4, 6-4 to win the Canberra International (Challenger 125) in Canberra, Australia. It is his second ATP Challenger title.
🎾 WTA:
🏆 Aryna Sabalenka (1) def. Polina Kudermetova (Q) 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 to win the Brisbane International (500) in Brisbane, Australia. It is her 18th WTA Tour title.
🏆 Claura Tauson (5) def. Naomi Osaka (7) 4-6 (ret.) to win the ASB Classic (250) in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the Dane’s third WTA Tour title.
🏆 Aoi Ito (7) def. Wei Sijia 6-4, 6-3 to win the Canberra International (WTA 125) in Canberra, Australia. It is her first WTA 125 title.
📈📉 On the rise / Down the line
📈 Mirra Andreeva moves up one place to a new career high of No. 15 after her run to the Brisbane International semifinals.
📈 Joao Fonseca ascends 32 spots from No. 145 to a new career high of No. 113 after winning the Canberra International.
📈 Polina Kudermetova moves up 50 places to a new career high of No. 57 after her run to the Brisbane International final.
📉 Andrey Rublev falls one place from No. 8 to No. 9, losing a key seeding slot for the Australian Open.
📉 Clara Burel drops four places from No. 99 to No. 103 to leave the top 100.
📉 Adrian Mannarino tumbles seven spots from No. 66 to No. 73 to drop out of the top 70.
📅 Coming up
🎾 ATP
📍Adelaide, Australia: Adelaide International (250) featuring Tommy Paul, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Sebastian Korda, Denis Shapovalov.
📍Auckland, New Zealand: ASB Classic (250) featuring Ben Shelton, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, Gael Monfils, Jakub Mensik.
📍Melbourne, Australia: Australian Open Qualifying featuring Joao Fonseca, Alexander Blockx, Learner Tien, Cruz Hewitt.
📺 UK: Sky Sports; U.S.: Tennis Channel 💻
🎾 WTA
📍Adelaide, Australia: Adelaide International (500) featuring Jessica Pegula, Donna Vekic, Ons Jabeur, Emma Navarro.
📍Hobart, Australia: Hobart International (250) featuring Dayana Yastremska, Rebecca Sramkova, Maya Joint, Sofia Kenin.
📍Melbourne, Australia: Australian Open Qualifying featuring Alycia Parks, Aoi Ito, Polina Kudermetova, Eva Lys.
📺 UK: Sky Sports; U.S.:
Tell us what you noticed this week in the comments below as the men’s and women’s tours continue.
(Top photo: Getty Images; design: Eamonn Dalton)
Sports
Teenage golfer Miles Russell delivers his dad an all-time Father’s Day experience during US Open final round
America 250: Bobby Jones
Bobby Jones was born on March 17, 1902, in Atlanta, Georgia, and became one of the greatest amateur golfers in history. As a teenager, he reached the third round of the U.S. Amateur at age 14, showing early promise. He went on to win 13 major championships, all as an amateur, a record that still stands. In 1930, Jones achieved the
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Miles Russell is the youngest player in the 2026 U.S. Open field at just 17 years old. Teeing it up in a major championship at that age, let alone making the cut as he did at Shinnecock Hills, made for an already unforgettable week for him and his family.
The young man had one final surprise up his sleeve for Sunday’s final round, however, that not only his family will cherish forever, but made plenty of golf fans watching the moment unfold a bit misty-eyed.
After hitting his approach shot into the par-4 18th, Russell’s caddie made his way over to the gallery. He proceeded to take off his caddie bib and hand it and Russell’s golf bag over to Russell’s father, Joe.
Miles Russell plays his tee shot on the 11th hole during the second round of the UNC Health Championship at Raleigh Country Club on May 29, 2026 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Jordan Bank/Getty Images) ((Photo by Jordan Bank/Getty Images))
TEENAGE PHENOM MILES RUSSELL MAKES ENTIRE GOLF WORLD FEEL OLD WITH EYE-POPPING QUOTE AHEAD OF US OPEN DEBUT
According to the NBC broadcast, the entire thing was Russell’s idea. He approached USGA rules officials before teeing off on Sunday to ask them if it was okay to have his dad take over caddying duties for the final hole, and they gave him the green light.
Talk about a Father’s Day gift that may never be topped.
“It was pretty cool,” Russell said after Sunday’s final round. “Just there walking up 18, that’s when he stepped in. It was kind of a fun Father’s Day gift. Kind of cool since it was my first one. Hopefully it’s something he’ll remember for a long time.”
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Amateur Miles Russell of the United States walks across the 16th hole during the first round of the 126th U.S. OPEN at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 18, 2026 in Southampton, New York. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images) (Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
Russell shot 3-over in the opening two rounds of the U.S. Open to make the cut by two shots. During Saturday’s third round, he struggled a bit en route to a 74, but backed it up with a final round score of even par.
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Miles Russell on the seventh tee during the first round of 126th U.S. Open Championship at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 18, 2026 in Southampton, New York. (Photo by Tracy Wilcox/PGA TOUR via Getty Images) (Tracy Wilcox/PGA TOUR via Getty Images)
Russell qualified for this week’s U.S. Open after advancing in the final stage of qualifying in a three-man playoff vying for two spots in the field. He had Charlie Woods, Tiger’s son, on the bag as his caddie during the qualifier. Both Woods and Russell have committed to play college golf at Florida State.
In 2024, Russell became the youngest player in Korn Ferry Tour history to make the cut in a tournament, eventually finishing T-20
The Lakers will seek to use their 25th pick in Tuesday’s first round of the NBA draft on a player who fills a need on a roster that could have up to nine free agents this summer. Yet the Lakers also are aware that picking that late in the round could leave them selecting the best player available.
They probably will be in search of a center who can be a lob threat or an athletic wing who can play defense and knock down three-pointers, two positions the Lakers crave as they try to build a team around star Luka Doncic that fits best with his style of play.
Names that NBA executives and mock drafts attached to the Lakers are Kentucky center Jayden Quaintance, Texas forward Dailyn Swain and Duke wing Isaiah Evans.
The Lakers spent time in Spain looking at 20-year-old guard Sergio de Larrea, but many NBA scouts see him going later in the first round or even in the second. According to people not authorized to speak publicly, the Lakers were impressed by their workout with Purdue point guard Braden Smith. But he’s on the smaller side (6 feet) and played four years in college, leading scouts to believe his upside is not that high and that he’ll be drafted in the second round.
The Lakers don’t have a pick in Wednesday’s second round.
After the Lakers were swept by a deep and athletic Oklahoma City team in the second round of the playoffs, president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka outlined what it takes when trying to compete in the uber-tough Western Conference against the likes of the Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs, who became the second-youngest team to reach the NBA Finals.
Pelinka looked at how Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell was drafted in the second round and how he flourished in just his second season, especially in the playoffs, in which he averaged 15.1 points and 4.3 assists in 11 games.
“Depth is really important, athleticism and youth. We have a lot of components of that on our roster, but we need to add to it,” Pelinka said last month during his exit interview with the media. “I think those are some of the key North Stars that we need to look at.
“One of the players that they had who played really well, Ajay Mitchell, they got in the second round. So there’s ways to add to your roster if you commit to doing the hard work and commit to the process of adding the right pieces. … We’ll be doing that through the draft and free agency and through trades. We’ve gotta find a way to have a roster that will compete with any team in the NBA. That’s what we do here.”
The Lakers do have three tradable first-round picks — 2026, 2031 and 2033 — but the latter two can’t be moved until after the draft.
Lakers star LeBron James is an unrestricted free agent and is looking for a deal from the Lakers, while Austin Reaves is expected to opt out of his $14.8-million deal so he can sign a contract with them for up to five years and about $241 million.
Still, the Lakers have to proceed with the draft to find a player.
Texas forward Dailyn Swain, left, vies for a loose ball against Purdue guard Braden Smith during an NCAA tournament game in March.
(Godofredo A. Vásquez / Associated Press)
Swain (6-7) and Evans (6-6) are the kind of athletic wings the Lakers could use, but both might be chosen before the Lakers make their pick.
The 6-9 Quaintance could slide to the Lakers because of health concerns. He played in only four games last season at Kentucky because the team was being cautious following knee surgery after he tore an anterior cruciate ligament when he played at Arizona State.
Scouts still view him as mobile, athletic and young enough — he turns 19 next month — to develop. But, Quaintance will need to rehab his knee and probably won’t be ready for the upcoming season. When healthy, scouts said, he can be the lob threat and defender that Doncic yearns to have.
Sports
Bryce Harper hits for cycle, Kyle Schwarber blasts three homers in Phillies blowout win over Mets
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The Phillies’ turnaround following the dismissal of manager Rob Thomson reached a new milestone when two of the franchise’s biggest stars delivered a historic performance.
Kyle Schwarber launched three home runs, including two in the third inning, while Bryce Harper completed the cycle to add yet another achievement to his accomplished career.
The offensive explosion powered Philadelphia to a 15-3 rout of the New York Mets on Saturday, as the Phillies continued their surge and received a signature performance from two of the game’s most recognizable stars.
Philadelphia Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber celebrates his home run with Bryce Harper during the third inning against the New York Mets in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on June 20, 2026. (Chris Szagola/AP)
Schwarber’s first home run traveled 456 feet, while his second blast of the third inning measured 457 feet off Mets reliever Cionel Pérez.
He capped his night with a two-run homer in the seventh inning. Schwarber’s major league-leading home run total climbed to 28, and the performance marked the fifth three-homer game of his career.
Cristopher Sanchez allowed one earned run in six innings to lower his ERA to 1.80.
It’s his 23rd straight start at Citizens Bank Park in which he allowed two earned runs or fewer, the second-most such starts by a pitcher at the same ballpark in MLB history since 1913, trailing only Jacob deGrom’s 24 at Citi Field for the Mets from Sept. 9, 2019 to Aug. 31, 2022.
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Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber of the Philadelphia Phillies leave the field after defeating the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on June 20, 2026. (Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Schwarber is the 67th player in major league history and second this season with multiple home runs in an inning, joining Houston’s Yordan Alvarez on June 12.
Schwarber is the fourth Phillies player to hit two home runs in an inning, along with Trea Turner (Aug. 19, 2023), Von Hayes (June 11, 1985) and Andy Seminick (June 2, 1949).
Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber hits a solo home run in the bottom of the third inning against the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on June 20, 2026. (Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Meanwhile, Harper hit a solo home run in the first inning, his 16th of the year. He doubled and singled in the third, then hit a two-run triple to the gap in left-center field in the fifth for his first career cycle and the 11th in Phillies history.
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The Phillies and Mets will wrap up their three-game series Sunday night, with first pitch set for 7:20 p.m. ET.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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