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Showing posts from January, 2026

35 times Shelton! American advances to the round of 16 in Australia and continues to demonstrate confidence

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 At 23 years old, Ben Shelton has just achieved his 35th Grand Slam victory. The 2023 US Open semi-finalist, and Australian Open semi-finalist last year, was dominant against Valentin Vacherot and won in straight sets (6/4, 6/4 and 7/6). Undefeated in sets so far, the challenge now is against the more experienced Casper Ruud, who has also been having a very solid tournament. Photo: @benshleton/ Instagram After the victory against Vacherot, Shelton made clear the level of confidence he has in the work he has done so far; during a post-game interview with his friend Chris Eubanks, the young man said: "I always pull out some of my best tennis here in Melbourne, and having the roof closed today just amplified the noise", showing how much he likes big, noisy stages.  Opinion  On fast surfaces, Shelton is likely to excel even more. The American already has a good track record in this type of competition; moreover, his powerful serve and competitive drive only amplify this high ...

"It's just one point"... not for Fritz, understand the "regret" of the world number 9 at the Australian Open

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Just before his debut in the main draw of the Australian Open against Valentin Royer, Taylor Fritz began his 2026 season at the United Cup, joining the United States team in the first few days of the year. Photo: @taylor_fritz / Instagram After this tournament, Taylor's attention is entirely focused on Melbourne, where he arrived more than a week ago to adapt. However, despite such focus on competing in a Grand Slam where he has already reached the quarterfinals (2024), Fritz expressed regret in his first few days around the "Rod Laver Arena".  Through the "X", the American commented on the "One Point Slam" and admitted that the challenge "seems like a lot of fun":  Fritz talks about "One Point Slam" Expectations for Fritz After a positive season last year, consolidating his position in the Top 10, Fritz arrives in Australia wanting to maintain his level and, who knows, return to the world's top 5. The leader in aces in 2025, Ta...

Amanda Anisimova and the anticipation for her first Grand Slam title: Is the time?

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Currently ranked number 4 in the world, Amanda Anisimova arrives at the Australian Open under the watchful eyes of the tennis world. The American is seen as one of the main contenders for the title, and what she has done in recent months explains why. The fact that she reached two Grand Slam finals could already explain such enthusiasm, but Amanda went further: she had a regular season that began with her first WTA 1000 title in Doha in February 2025; to close the year, she won the China Open in October, crowning her dominance in that competition. Photo: @amandaanisimova/ Instagram On these occasions and many others throughout the season (including her electrifying and convincing run at the WTA Finals), Amanda displays such power in her shots and consistency, something that will certainly work in her favor on the fast courts of Melbourne. Game by game and clashes Despite the high expectations and skill level, the competition is fierce, and it comes from talented names on the WTA circui...

Goal set: Coco Gauff aims for first place in the world ranking in 2026

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 The world's highest-paid female athlete in 2025, winner of 2 Grand Slam titles and currently ranked number 3 in the world, Cori Gauff arrived in Australia with a clear objective: to finish the year as the leader of the WTA Ranking. Currently competing in the "United Cup," the American spoke at a press conference about this first week of the year and plans for the rest of the year: "Starting the year with this team competition is ideal; it's the perfect balance between fun and competitive pressure. I feel more comfortable with my shoes every day. I was able to rest and train well in Florida during the preseason," she assessed. Finally, Gauff outlined his main goal for the year and what he intends to do to achieve it: "I want to be more consistent so I can fight for the number one spot in the WTA rankings." Photo: @cocogauff/  Instagram Possibilities With innate talent and numerous achievements at just 21 years old, Cori won Roland Garros brilliantl...