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.
GO DEEPER
‘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.
GO DEEPER
How Marin Cilic and Kei Nishikori stunned tennis at the 2014 U.S. Open
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.
GO DEEPER
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
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.
ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!
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.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is well into the second run of group play, with every team still eager to post wins and most looking to secure a place in the knockout stage.
Here’s everything you need to know about matches being played Sunday, Monday and Tuesday in the 48-team tournament across the U.S., Mexico and Canada (all times Pacific). Tuesday’s matches will conclude the first two games of group play for every team at the World Cup.
Sunday’s Group G matchups:
Belgium vs. Iran
Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku, right, is challenged by Egypt’s Ramy Rabia during a World Cup Group G match on June 15.
(Alex Grimm / Getty Images)
Where: SoFi Stadium
Time: noon
TV: FS1, Telemundo
The buzz: Iran twice rallied from deficits to draw with New Zealand in its first game, while Belgium, outplayed by Egypt in its opener, was lucky to escape with a point on an own goal early in the second half. Belgium’s aging golden generation of Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne, Thibaut Courtois, Thomas Meunier and Axel Witsel is going to need to do much better if they hope to avoid another early World Cup exit.
New Zealand vs. Egypt
New Zealand’s Callan Elliot, left, and Iran’s Mehdi Ghayedi battle for the ball during a World Cup Group G match on June 15.
(Andre Penner / Associated Press)
Where: BC Place, Vancouver
Time: 6 p.m.
TV: FS1, Telemundo
The buzz: One of these teams could make history since neither has ever won a World Cup game. New Zealand earned its first point in the World Cup since 2010 with a draw against Iran. The winner likely advances to the next round.
Sunday’s Group H matchups:
Spain vs. Saudi Arabia
Spain’s Mikel Oyarzabal, top, challenges for the ball during a draw with Cape Verde on June 15.
(Mattia Ozbot / Getty Images)
Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Time: 9 a.m.
TV: Fox, Telemundo
The buzz: Both teams opened the World Cup with surprising results. Second-ranked Spain was unable to score in a draw with No. 67 Cape Verde. Saudi Arabia was 10 minutes away from upsetting Uruguay, only to settle for a tie. Spain desperately needs a win to get its World Cup back on track, while another good performance from Saudi Arabia — unbeaten in its last three games — would have the Arabian Falcons in position to reach the knockout stage.
Uruguay vs. Cape Verde
Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha holds the nation’s flag after a draw with Spain on June 15.
(Buda Mendes / Getty Images)
Where: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Fla.
Time: 3 p.m.
TV: FS1, Telemundo
The buzz: With all four teams playing to draws in their openers, the group is wide open. That creates a rare opportunity for tournament debutant Cape Verde, the second-smallest country to qualify for a World Cup. Vozinha, Cape Verde’s goalkeeper, made seven saves to shut out Spain. If he can frustrate Uruguay the same way, Cape Verde could be through to the round of 32.
Monday’s Group J matchups:
Argentina vs. Austria
Argentina’s Lionel Messi reacts after scoring his third goal against Algeria at the World Cup on June 16.
(Charlie Riedel / Associated Press)
Where: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
Time: 10 a.m.
TV: Fox, Telemundo
The buzz: Argentina opened its World Cup title defense with a 3-0 win over Algeria on a hat trick from Lionel Messi. The Argentina captain, playing in his record sixth World Cup, is tied with Germany’s Miroslav Klose for the most career World Cup goals (16). Austria, meanwhile, would all but assure itself of a spot in the knockout round with a point.
Jordan vs. Algeria
Algeria’s Zineddine Belaïd kicks the ball during a World Cup loss to Argentina on June 16.
(Michael Steele / Getty Images)
Where: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, Calif.
Time: 8 p.m.
TV: FS1, Telemundo
The buzz: Little was expected of Jordan, making its first appearance in the World Cup. And it delivered little in a 3-1 loss to Austria. But Algeria, ranked 28th in the world, entered the tournament with high hopes and one of African soccer’s most potent attacks. However, it had only one shot on goal in its loss to Argentina and needs a big rebound to avoid an early trip home.
Monday’s Group I matches:
France vs. Iraq
France’s Kylian Mbappé celebrates after scoring against Senegal on June 16.
(Adam Hunger / Ap Photo/adam Hunger)
Where: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
Time: 2 p.m.
TV: Fox, Telemundo
The buzz: Kylian Mbappé proved his fitness with a brace in France’s opening win over Senegal, giving him 14 World Cup goals, tied for fourth on the all-time list. He has a great chance to pad that total against an Iraq team that gave up four goals to Norway. Iraq still is looking for its first-ever World Cup point.
Norway vs. Senegal
Norway’s Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring against Iraq on June 16.
(Justin Setterfield / Getty Images)
Where: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J.
Time: 5 p.m.
TV: Fox, Telemundo
The buzz: Norway, playing in its first World Cup this century, made up for lost time with a 4-1 win in its opener, getting two goals from Erling Haaland. Norway probably will move on to the next round no matter what happens, but a point would lock down a spot. Senegal and Sadio Mané, on the other hand, desperately need a win.
Tuesday’s Group K matchups:
Portugal vs. Uzbekistan
Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo walks on the field during a match against the Democratic Republic of the Congo on June 17.
(Molly Darlington / Getty Images)
Where: NRG Stadium, Houston
Time: 10 a.m.
TV: Fox, Telemundo
The buzz: Cristiano Ronaldo entered this World Cup with visions of winning his first title. But he’ll go home early and empty-handed unless fifth-ranked Portugal improves on the listless performance it had in a draw with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Uzbekistan, playing in its first World Cup, was not intimidated by the big stage, weathering a withering Colombia attack in a 3-1 loss. Expect it to bunker in again against Portugal.
Colombia vs. DR Congo
Yoane Wissa, left, celebrates with teammates after scoring for the Democratic Republic of the Congo against Portugal on June 17.
(Karen Warren / Associated Press)
Where: Estadio Akron, Zapopan, Mexico
Time: 7 p.m.
TV: FS1, Telemundo
The buzz: The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s only other World Cup appearance came in 1974, when the country was known as Zaire; it lost all three games and didn’t score a goal. It’s already done better with Yoane Wissa’s score in first-half stoppage time giving the team a point against Portugal. A win here and it’s through to the knockout phase. The same is true of Colombia, which got a 65th-minute goal from Luis Díaz and another from substitute Jáminton Campaz deep in stoppage time to beat stubborn Uzbekistan.
Tuesday’s Group L matchups:
England vs. Ghana
England’s Harry Kane celebrates after scoring against Croatia on June 17.
(Tony Gutierrez / Associated Press)
Where: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass.
Time: 1 p.m.
TV: Fox, Telemundo
The buzz: England opened its World Cup with a surprisingly comfortable win over Croatia behind two goals from captain Harry Kane. But the Three Lions are only equal atop the table with Ghana, which got a goal deep in stoppage time from Caleb Yirenkyi to beat Panama. If there’s a winner here, it probably will decide the group. A point likely sends both teams through.
Panama vs. Croatia
Where: BMO Stadium, Toronto
Time: 4 p.m.
TV: Fox, Telemundo
Panama’s Ismael Díaz attempts a shot against Ghana on June 17.
(Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)
The buzz: Croatia has played in two straight World Cup semifinals, but that streak is in jeopardy after a 4-2 loss to England. Panama outshot, outpassed and outpossessed Ghana in its first game but came away with nothing after conceding a goal in stoppage time, leaving the Central Americans still looking for their first World Cup win.
Sports
Jazz Chisholm explains why he still won’t wear a cup after fouling a pitch into his own groin
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Men around the country are still wincing from the sight of New York Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. fouling a pitch straight into his own groin.
It was bad enough that Chisholm had to leave the game, and it left many wondering why he wasn’t wearing a cup to protect himself.
Well, now we have an answer.
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New York Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. took a brutal shot to the groin on Thursday night. (Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images)
Yankees beat writer Gary Philips shared some quotes from Chisholm explaining why he wasn’t a cup guy before taking a foul ball to the cojones, and why he isn’t going to be a cup guy moving forward.
WEEKS AFTER BULLFIGHTER SUFFERED PERFORATED RECTUM, ANOTHER WAS GORED IN GROIN AND REQUIRED EMERGENCY SURGERY
Chisholm said that the pain level was a “million,” and that, “If you ever got hit in the testicles, you would know.”
Most males reading this just nodded at that statement.
But Chisholm revealed that despite cups being mandatory in the minor leagues, he still skipped them and will continue to because he trusts his own defensive abilities.
“I’ve never worn a cup,” he said. “I’ve never been hit in the balls. That was just unlucky.”
Now, there are times when I wonder why men don’t wear cups all the time just for some peace of mind (I feel that way about helmets too). You wouldn’t regret not wearing a cup until the moment you’re at a cookout and a rogue volleyball puts you in shambles.
But I also like that Chisholm trusts himself to react and protect the boys. I’ve always said that a fairly significant part of a man’s life is devoted to protecting his lower anatomy.
You’re ever vigilant, trying to steer clear of anything that could leave you doubled over on the ground, and spouting off every expletive you know and several others you didn’t realize you knew.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. says he’ll rely on his defensive abilities instead of wearing a cup moving forward. (David Richard-Imagn Images)
Waist-high branches, table corners, projectiles, bicycle seats, even a pet jumping in your lap when you’re not ready.
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Chisholm is self-aware enough to know where his self-preservation reflexes stand, and I respect that.
But if he takes another foul ball to the lower area of his body, he might want to start rethinking that stance on cups.
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